An Anchorage man now faces at least 25 years behind bars after a jury convicted him of sexually abusing a 3-year-old girl on several occasions.
Prosecutors say 23-year-old Christopher Duskin admitted to sexually abusing the toddler on three different occasions back in April of 2009.</p>
The child's grandparents called Anchorage Police after the child told them what happened.</p><p>During Duskin's trial, he recanted his confession, saying someone else must have abused the girl and that she was coached to accuse him of the abuse. Also during the trial, the now 5-year-old girl testified that Duskin "did bad things to her," but said the events were "too sad to talk about." District Judge Michael Spann then allowed the state to play a statement previously recorded on video with the girl. The state says the videotaped statement helped prove the girl was telling the truth because it was done at a child advocacy center where "improved technology and the reliability of forensic interviewing helps lessen the possibility of vague or unreliable disclosures from children." "This was a victory for this family, but also for the system that seeks to protect our most vulnerable citizens from abusers," said District Attorney Adrienne Bachman. Duskin's sentencing is set for October 22, 2010.