The Bottom Line
- Legal Strategy: Defense counsel Marcelo Ponce confirmed that Nicolás Soria will formally testify only after the conclusion of the scheduled witness testimonies in the federal trial.
- Custody Concerns: The defense recently filed a habeas corpus motion in Chaco following an alleged physical altercation involving a homemade edged weapon at the Federal Penitentiary Unit No. 7 in Resistencia.
- Investigative Scope: Court arguments continue to focus heavily on whether Soria’s independent investigative activities in 9 de Julio constituted obstruction of justice or autonomous fact-finding.
The Current Procedural Landscape in Corrientes
The Federal Oral Tribunal of Corrientes reconvened to address the ongoing abduction and concealment case surrounding Loan Danilo Peña, an investigation that originated on June 13, 2024. Among those testifying were Leticia Risco, former coordinator of the Federal System for the Search of Missing and Dislocated Persons (SIFEBU) and head of the Alerta Sofía protocol; odorology expert Guillermo Gustavo Romero; and Santiago Fabián Maidana, a local resident from 9 de Julio.
Amid these witness depositions, Marcelo Ponce outlined the timeline for his client’s defense. Rather than speaking immediately, Soria—who faces severe federal charges including the entrenchment of the investigation, fraud, and unlawful deprivation of liberty—will take the stand strictly after the prosecution and plaintiff counsel finalize the current phase of witness interrogations.
Jailhouse Security and Institutional Motions
Procedural arguments in the courtroom were preceded by urgent legal maneuvers outside the judicial chamber. Ponce formally presented a habeas corpus filing to the judicial authorities in Chaco, drawing attention to a violent incident on the preceding Sunday inside the Federal Penitentiary Unit No. 7 in Resistencia. As reported by regional media outlets, Soria sustained a facial injury to his nose allegedly inflicted by another inmate utilizing a makeshift, domestically manufactured edged weapon.
This security breach prompted the defense to demand immediate protective measures from the federal penitentiary system, running parallel to the evidentiary hearings inside the Corrientes tribunal where tensions among participating legal teams remain elevated.
Evaluating the Independent Investigation Defense
The core of Soria’s defense hinges on separating his unauthorized parallel inquiries in the town of 9 de Julio from allegations of deliberate obstruction. According to statements previously detailed by Radio Sudamericana, Ponce emphasized that his client spent approximately eight years residing in the United States, an experience during which he claimed association with a nongovernmental organization focused on locating missing minors and anti-trafficking efforts.
Upon returning to Argentina and learning of the Peña case, Soria traveled to Corrientes to initiate independent investigative efforts. Ponce argued during earlier proceedings that Soria maintained his own methodology separate from official state forces, asserting that his client never issued binding directives to other central figures in the case, such as Macarena or Camila. The prosecution, however, continues to press forward with allegations that these parallel activities severely compromised the integrity of the initial search infrastructure.
| Key Judicial Metric / Event | Reported Status / Detail |
|---|---|
| Primary Defense Counsel | Marcelo Ponce |
| Current Detention Facility | Federal Penitentiary Unit No. 7 (Resistencia, Chaco) |
| Core Charges Filed | Entrenchment of investigation, fraud, unlawful deprivation of liberty |
| Testimony Timeline | Scheduled for appearance following conclusion of witness rounds |
Broader Judicial Fallout and Prosecutorial Stance
The wider trial atmosphere has been characterized by sharp rhetoric between the public ministry and defense representatives. Prosecutor Carlos Schaefer publicly rebuked attempts to shift operational blame toward the victim’s family, labeling such defensive strategies as unacceptable. Concurrently, Federal Police Commissioner Major Fabio Pirrone, who spearheaded the early tracking operations, reaffirmed before the court his assessment that the child did not simply wander off unassisted, aligning with the prosecution’s central narrative regarding criminal intervention.
As the Federal Oral Tribunal proceeds through its docket, the defense must now balance immediate protective litigation for its client in Chaco with the upcoming strategic pivot when Soria eventually takes the witness stand to defend his actions in 9 de Julio.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice.
