Orange City, Iowa — The Sioux County Attorney wants the alleged minor sexual assault victims in the case against a former Sioux Center teacher to be able to give their discovery depositions in a place that is not in the physical presence of the defendant.
Authorities say charges were filed against 35-year old Curtis Van Dam of Sioux Center after a complaint was lodged with police on October 18th, 2017, alleging inappropriate conduct between Van Dam, a former teacher at Sioux Center Christian School, and a student attending the school. Further investigation led to 146 counts of sex-related crimes being filed against Van Dam, the earliest of which goes back to August 2013.
Sioux County Attorney Thomas Kunstle has filed a motion with the court asking that the court exclude Van Dam’s physical presence from the discovery depositions. He asked that the court use iPads to create a one-way audio and visual communication link, which would allow Van Dam to hear and see the minor victims’ live testimony. The iPads would also be equipped with electronic messaging software, which would allow text messages between Van Dam and his attorney during the depositions.
County Attorney Kunstle says that this arrangement would not be used if the state were to perpetuate the child victims’ testimony at trial.
He also requests the presence of a victim advocate in the room with the alleged victims.
Kunstle says in his motion that child therapists are expected to testify that the minor victims will suffer therapeutic setbacks and/or their communication may be limited if they are required to testify about the alleged sexual abuse while Van Dam is physically present.
The motion asks for the judge to order such an arrangement, or for the matter to be discussed at a hearing on August 20th. The case was to have gone to trial this week, but after a status conference last week, District Judge Steven Andreasen told both sides to continue their discussions about depositions and file suggested pretrial deadlines. No further dates have been set.
