Latest Case: State v. Hansen (Criminal Law)

When Children Stay Home—A COVID-19 Consequence

KATHRYN ROBB

Kathryn Robb, executive director of CHILD USAdvocacy, describes how the COVID-19 pandemic uniquely endangers children who are being sexually abused by people close to them. Robb describes ways in which teachers, coaches, and other adult figures in children’s lives must do to ensure the safety of children in this time when schools and other safe spaces are shut down.

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State v. Hansen

Citation: 2020 ME 43

Opinion Date: April 7, 2020

Judge: Humphrey

Areas of Law: Criminal Law

The Supreme Judicial Court affirmed Defendant's conviction and sentence for two counts of unlawful sexual contact, holding that sufficient evidence supported the conviction and that there was no error or abuse of discretion in the proceedings below. After a jury trial, Defendant was found guilty of two counts of unlawful sexual contact (Class B). Defendant was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment on the first count and a consecutive term of ten years, suspended, with five years of probation on the second count. The Supreme Judicial Court affirmed, holding (1) there was sufficient evidence to support the convictions; (2) the prosecutor's use of leading questions during the direct examination of the child victim did not violate Defendant's right to a fair trial; (3) testimony by the victim's mother did not violate the first complaint rule; and (4) the sentences imposed were not excessive or disproportionate, and the trial court did not abuse its discretion in imposing consecutive sentences.