People v. Jones

Opinion

LUCAS, C. J.—

I. Introduction

In this child molestation case, we are presented with dilficult questions regarding the extent to which the defendant’s due process rights are implicated by the inability of his young accuser to give specific details regarding the time, place and circumstances of various alleged assaults. Frequently, as here, these cases involve the so-called “resident child molester” (see People v. Van Hoek (1988) 200 Cal.App.3d 811, 814, & fn. 1 [246 Cal.Rptr. 352]), who either lives with his victim or has continuous access to him or her. In such cases, the victim…