4 of 6 girls will testify against alleged sexual abuser via CCTV in Fast Feet trial, judge rules

POWHATAN COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Four of the six girls accusing their former after-school coach of sexual abuse will not have to face him in court later this month.

A Powhatan court ruled on Friday, March 6, that the four alleged victims accusing Joseph Parker, the former owner of Fast Feet Sports Academy in Powhatan, will be able to testify via closed-circuit television (CCTV). The decision came after the commonwealth's attorney previously presented several clinicians or expert witnesses who argued that the girls would suffer emotional trauma when facing their alleged abuser in court.

Parker is facing 18 charges, including eight counts of aggravated sexual battery of a child under 13. The six girls were all between nine and 12 years old when they accused Parker, whom they referred to as "Coach Joe," of inappropriately touching them during after-school sports programs at Fast Feet between 2023 and 2024.

MORE: Court documents detail investigation into owner of Powhatan sports academy, impacts on victims

At the Friday hearing, the commonwealth's prosecutor reiterated that the girls met the requirements and motioned for five of them to testify via CCTV based on the clinicians' testimonies.

The prosecutor said the girls might "shut down" and become nervous and reluctant, as testifying in front of Parker will impair their ability to communicate, respond accurately and regulate their emotions. Some of the victims were previously diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, bouts of depression and other mental health concerns.

The commonwealth argued that seeing Parker will "trigger" the girls' traumatic responses, including fight, flight or freeze.

Parker's defense attorneys questioned whether the experts' testimonies were enough to allow the girls to testify via CCTV, calling what the commonwealth presented "conjectures" instead of facts. He said the clinicians didn't take time to bring the girls to the courtroom and explain the trial process, and instead presumed what their responses to the experience would be.

The defense argued that though testifying in court might be difficult for the victims, it doesn't necessarily mean traumatic. He said the courtroom being intimidating is "the nature of the process."

The court sided with the commonwealth on four of the five victims and ruled that they will suffer at least moderate trauma if they testify in court. The Powhatan judge explained that the girls have already shown signs of stress and an inability to handle discussing what happened during counseling sessions, much less "reliving" the events in the presence of Parker.

Parker will next appear in court at a jury trial on March 24.