Sex Offense Case, Attendance of Supporting Persons at

Testimony of Prosecuting Witness 17 Years of Age or Under.

(a)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a prosecuting witness 17 years of age or under a case involving violation of any sexual offense defined in Chapter 25 of Title 9, Guam Code Annotated, or a violation of § 31.30 of said title shall be entitled for support to the attendance of up to two persons of his or her own choosing, one of whom may be a witness, at the Grand Jury proceeding, preliminary hearing and at the trial, during the testimony of the prosecuting witness. Only one of those support persons may accompany the witness to the witness stand although the other person may remain in the courtroom during the witness' testimony. The support persons shall not make notes during the hearing or proceeding. In the case of a Grand Jury proceeding, the prosecuting attorney shall inform the support person or persons that Grand Jury proceedings are confidential and may not be discussed with anyone not in attendance at the proceedings.

(b)If the person or persons so chosen are also prosecuting witness, the prosecution shall present evidence that the person's attendance is both desired by the prosecuting witness for support and will be helpful to the prosecuting witness. Upon that showing, the court shall grant the request unless information presented by the defendant or noticed by the court establishes that the support person's attendance during the testimony of the prosecuting witness would pose a substantial risk of influencing or affecting the content of that testimony. In all cases, the judge shall admonish the support person or persons to not prompt, sway or influence the minor witness in any way. For purposes of this section, members of a prosecuting witness' family shall include the prosecuting witness' parents, legal guardian, grandparents, uncles, aunts or siblings.