Judge: Girl won’t have to face man in abuse trial
ERIE (AP) – A judge has ruled that during a trial a 10-year-old girl won’t have to face the man who allegedly abused her.
The Erie Times-News reports Monday that 32-year-old Daniel J. Hoopsick Jr. allegedly assaulted the girl in December 2012.
Hoopsick is scheduled to go to trial in July, and after child broke down twice and refused to enter the courtroom during preliminary hearings Judge Shad Connelly ruled that she won’t be in the same room with him when she testifies.
The girl’s mother says that at preliminary hearings the child ran to a waiting room chair, wrapped her hands around it and refused to let go because she feared facing Hoopsick.
Hoopsick maintains his innocence. He’s being held in Erie County Prison on $100,000 bond.