State v. Jones

ORR, Judge.

I

Defendant contends the trial court erred in excluding him from the voir dire hearing during the victim’s testimony to determine her competency to testify.

Prior to examining the victim, the judge heard the testimony of the victim’s psychologist, Dr. Betty Gordon. Dr. Gordon, a clinical child psychologist specializing in sexual abuse, testified that the victim exhibited an intense fear of the defendant and that she could suffer emotional harm if forced to testify in his presence.

Based upon Dr. Gordon’s testimony, the judge secluded defendant in the judge’s chambers with a closed…