A Common Pleas Court judge continued a hearing Wednesday to hear directly from a young victim of an alleged indecent assault before determining whether the girl will testify in open court.

Judge Timothy McCune continued the hearing for William Stanley Brookbank, 51, of Bruin, who faces felony charges of endangering the welfare of children and corruption of minors, and two misdemeanor charges of indecent assault and one charge of indecent exposure. McCune wants to talk directly to the victim before making a final decision.

Assistant District Attorney Ben Simon argued the girl, now 7, should not be required to testify because doing so would cause her extreme emotional distress. He further requested that if the girl must testify, then she should be allowed to do so through live video.

On the other hand, Brookbank's attorney objected to the possibility of the girl not testifying. Assistant Public Defender Charles Nedz argued the defendant has the constitutional right to contest testimony.

McCune said he heard no evidence during the hearing that showed the girl would suffer emotional distress if she testified. He continued the hearing to give prosecutors the opportunity to present the girl.

Read the rest of this story in Friday's print edition of the Eagle.