This section contains the nature of the case and procedural background.

A 16-year-old girl was interviewed by the DFS and the sheriff's office at a local high school for a report about alleged sexual abuse. After the interview, the girl was taken to the local hospital emergency room for a medical examination. The girl then stated to the Dr. that she had been forcibly subjected to sexual intercourse by her stepfather, Blake (D), over the previous several years. At trial, neither the State nor D called the girl to the stand but the State relied upon a typed confession, the Dr.'s testimony, and that of a nurse who assisted the Dr. in the examination, the testimony of the DFS investigator and the testimony by the sheriffs and the testimony of the officer who interviewed D and obtained a confession. The jury returned a verdict of guilty and D appealed.

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