Prosecutors are questioning the tactics used in an interview of a girl who claimed sexual abuse.  A Child Protection Specialist who recorded the young girl’s report of sexual abuse was allegedly not using best practices during the interview, according to a state expert who testified in the trial of 37-year-old Jeremiah Burns Wednesday.  The second day of Burns’ trial continued with the testimony of the 10-year-old girl who has accused him of sexually abusing her in 2014.

 
Burns has maintained his innocence since he was charged in June 2015.  Public Defender Matthew Claus asked the 10-year-old about the recorded interview, conducted by Department of Family Services Child Protection Specialist Ashley Hopkins.  Hopkins interviewed the girl, who was 8 at the time she reported the abuse.  She reportedly made statements that were inconsistent with what she told her school counselor, and later told police.  Experts were critical of Hopkins interview technique.

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