State v. Catsam

The defendant, Peter Catsam, appeals his conviction of sexual assault in violation of 13 V.S.A. § 3252(3). We reverse and remand for a new trial because of the improper introduction at trial of prejudicial expert testimony.

The complainant, S. S., was ten years old at the time of the alleged sexual assault. The defendant had known the complainant’s mother for about three years before the alleged incident, and had carried on an intimate relationship with her up until approximately the time of the reports by S. S. of sexual assault. The defendant had a good relationship with the complainant to…