Newman attorneys object to decision on child witnesses

Online Taney County Circuit Court records indicate former Kanakuk Kamps director Pete Newman's attorney, Tom Carver of Springfield, objected to the prosecuting attorney's motion to use Missouri's new Child Witness Protection Act during today's preliminary hearing.

Newman is charged with four felony sex crimes involving underage boys.

Judge Tony Williams not only went along with the prosecutor's recommendations, but has closed the courtroom for today's hearing, according to the Crime Scene blog.

The basic concepts of the Child Witness Protection Law, taken from a description on the General Assembly website, is printed below:

The “Child Witness Protection Act” was created in 491.725 RSMo. to give courts the discretion to make numerous changes to
court procedures to help prevent children from becoming confused, intimidated or harassed when they participate in court proceedings.

Some of the accommodations include changes to the oath required of witnesses to make it more easily understood by children, limiting the duration or timing of questioning, rephrasing confusing or harassing questions, changing the layout of the courtroom, or allowing the child to hold a toy, blanket or similar item during testimony. Perhaps most importantly, the court may designate a “support person” who may accompany a child to the witness box and remain near the child but who may not obstruct the defendant’s view of the child-witness or influence the child’s testimony in any way.