State of Connecticut v. Devon D.

Summary

The court held that the trial court properly joined the three cases because the evidence concerning each child was sufficiently similar and cross admissible to show the defendant's propensity for aberrant and compulsive sexual misconduct, eliminating substantial prejudice from joinder. It also held that the trial court acted within its discretion by allowing a comfort dog near one child during testimony after balancing the accommodation's likely assistance to reliable testimony against possible prejudice and adopting safeguards. The court reversed the Appellate Court and directed it to affirm the trial court judgments.