(1) When a defendant has been charged with an unlawful sexual offense, as defined in section 18-3-411 (1), or incest, as defined in section 18-6-301, and when the victim at the time of the commission of the act is a child less than fifteen years of age, the prosecution may apply to the court for an order that a deposition be taken of the victim's testimony and that the deposition be recorded and preserved on video tape.
The prosecution shall apply for the order in writing at least three days prior to thetaking of the deposition. The defendant shall receive reasonable notice of the taking of the deposition.
Upon timely receipt of the application, the court shall make a preliminary findingregarding whether, at the time of trial, the victim is likely to be medically unavailable or otherwise unavailable within the meaning of rule 804 (a) of the Colorado rules of evidence. Such finding shall be based on, but not be limited to, recommendations from the child's therapist or any other person having direct contact with the child, whose recommendations are based on specific behavioral indicators exhibited by the child. If the court so finds, it shall order that the deposition be taken, pursuant to rule 15 (d) of the Colorado rules of criminal procedure, and preserved on video tape. The prosecution shall transmit the video tape to the clerk of the court in which the action is pending.
If at the time of trial the court finds that further testimony would cause the victimemotional trauma so that the victim is medically unavailable or otherwise unavailable within the meaning of rule 804 (a) of the Colorado rules of evidence, the court may admit the video tape of the victim's deposition as former testimony under rule 804 (b)(1) of the Colorado rules of evidence.
Nothing in this section shall prevent the admission into evidence of any videotapedstatements of children which would qualify for admission pursuant to section 13-25-129, C.R.S., or any other statute or rule of evidence.
Source: L. 83: Entire section added, p. 694, § 4, effective June 15. L. 91: (5) added, p. 406, § 12, effective June 6. L. 2003: (1) amended, p. 974, § 6, effective April 17.
Cross references: For provisions concerning video tape depositions of victims of child abuse that are similar to the provisions of this section, see § 18-6-401.3.