Identification motion still not decided in Sames case

APPLETON - The Minnesota man accused of impersonating a police officer and assaulting a teen girl at the Fox River Mall was back in court Tuesday.

It is a continuation of a motions hearing for Jamie Sames from last Thursday. Sames' attorney, Nila Robinson, does not want the alleged victim, a 13-year-old girl, to be able to identify him at trial.

The prosecution and defense will now submit written briefs. The last brief is scheduled to be submitted September 30. Judge John Des Jardins is scheduled to make his ruling roughly a week later.

Robinson argues that showing the girl surveillance video from Target, shortly after the alleged assault, helped her identify Sames in a photo lineup. She wants both identifications thrown out, arguing that the girl could only give a vague description of Sames until she viewed the video. Robinson also points to the grainy quality of the surveillance video.

Prosecutors, however, feel the police acted in the interest of public safety. District Attorney Carrie Schneider says she does not think this motion will make or break the case.

Sames is scheduled for a jury trial October 25-27.