In Re the Welfare of D.D.R.

I agree that the district court properly sentenced D.D.R. by imposing a juvenile sentence and not imposing a stayed adult sentence on the third-degree criminal-sexual-conduct offense. But I respectfully dissent from the majority’s determination that cumulative error requires that we reverse and remand for a new trial.

I

The majority identifies three errors that combined to deny D.D.R. a fair trial: the prosecutor’s statements in closing argument about the presumption of innocence, the district court’s procedure for D.D.R.’s use of J.B.’s videotaped statement, and the court’s instruction to the…