People v. Kinnett

The State appeals a pretrial ruling excluding the testimony of two corroborating witnesses in an aggravated criminal sexual abuse trial. We affirm.

The defendant, Walter Kinnett, was charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse (720 ILCS 5/12—16(c)(l)(i) (West 1994)), in that he knowingly placed the child victim’s (hereinafter c.v.’s) hand on his penis and placed his hands on the c.v’s buttocks on or about July 4, 1995. The c.v. was eight years old at the time of the alleged incident. The defendant is the c.v.’s paternal stepgrandfather.

Before trial, the State sought to have…