People v. Ortiz

Defendant Anthony Ortiz was charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of his girlfriend’s nine-year-old daughter. Defendant waived his right to a jury trial, and the prosecution proceeded as scheduled with its case in chief on April 24, 1989, before Whiteside County Circuit Judge Wilbur Johnson. At 11:45 a.m., midway through the State’s direct examination of the child’s mother, the prosecuting assistant State’s Attorney informed the court that the victim was not available to testify because her father had confused the trial date and he could not have her at the courthouse…