LAS VEGAS - Google the name Victor Fakoya and prepare to wade through pages, and pages, and pages - linking Fakoya to the death of a toddler in his care.
Though some posts headline his innocence, many others do not - creating a spotty history of his arrest, his prosecution and his eventual acquittal.
"I am a very young person, and I am very ambitious," he said. "My ambition did not die with being in jail for two years. I'm back, and I'm putting that behind me, and I want to move on with my life."
Though Fakoya can't change the content in cyberspace, he has asked the court to seal all records of the criminal action - a move provided under Nevada law.
While such requests are routinely approved, Clark County prosecutors oppose the petition - arguing Fakoya's acquittal does not necessarily mean he did nothing wrong.
Public defender Norm Reed is Fakoya's attorney.
"Part of me should not be surprised. I guess I'm just hoping, at some point, that this is going to have an actual end," Reed said.
Reed stood by Fakoya through two criminal prosecutions, followed by a third action in Family Court - all for the same alleged crime.
"I do believe that they are convinced he did something wrong. What's inappropriate is not being able to explain how the jury didn't buy into that. That's a final decision," Reed said.
A judge plans to hear both sides later this month and has asked the attorneys to provide their theories of the case, portions of the trial record and Fakoya's biography. His biography notes his wife and two daughters, his U.S. citizenship and his master's degree - information about Fakoya that is not included in the public record.
"I didn't know that sealing the record was something that would become another kind of trial again, but we are just following it one step after the other until it's over. It's not over," Fakoya said.
Fakoya's criminal trial is the one in which Judge Valerie Vega kept the jury up all night deliberating - a fact prosecutors make mention of in their pleadings.
Under Nevada law, as long as there's no evidence any further action will be brought against Fakoya, it's up to the judge to decide whether to seal the record.
Victor Fakoya
