NEW ULM — State’s witnesses took the stand Wednesday in a five-day jury trial for a 39-year Hanska man facing two felony second-degree criminal sexual conduct charges in Brown County District Court.

Two girls, ages 11 and 12, told authorities in the fall of 2019 that Christopher L. Konakowitz molested them at a slumber party at his residence several years earlier.

The State’s final witness of the day, Julie Marthaler, Executive Director of The Child and Advocacy Center of South Central Minnesota in Mankato, testified she conducted a child-led, child-centered Cornerhouse forensic interview of the girls after Konakowitz was arrested in October 2019.

Cornerhouse Forensic Interview Protocol known as RATAC (rapport, anatomy identification, touch inquiry, abuse scenario, and closure) is a semi-structured, non-directing questioning process to use with alleged victims of child sexual abuse.

A former Blue Earth County child protection specialist, Marthaler said “my role is to listen to children and learn about their experiences.”

In videos played in court in front of a jury of seven men and five women, one of the girls wrote Christopher Konakowitz’ name when asked about a touch that made her feel uncomfortable. The girl said she felt nervous when Konakowitz touched her underneath her pajamas and underwear.

The other girl said in the interview video that Konakowitz “put his hands on my privates, for a little bit,” waking her up as she slept in a bed, making her feel scared and nervous.

Brown County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Jeremy Reed, who testified he is also trained in doing Cornerhouse forensic interviews, testified he arrested Konakowitz three days after receiving a report of the delayed sexual abuse case.

“It’s the victim’s statements that were enough to arrest him based on probable cause, which he said he discussed with the Brown County Attorney’s Office,” Reed testified.

Reed testified he also interviewed the girls’ mother about the alleged incident and Cornerhouse interviews with them were videotaped.

In addition, Reed testified that he told the girls’ mother not to talk to them about what happened to them with Konakowitz because he didn’t want anyone else influencing them.

Deputy Brown County Attorney Jill Jensen said she has one more witness to call to the stand beginning at 8:30 a.m. Thursday. A number of defense witnesses are expected to testify Thursday.

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.