Judge will let sex abuse defendant view alleged victim's mental health records

A judge's ruling will allow a sexual assault defendant's attorney to review mental health records of the alleged victim.

In a ruling Thursday, Sixth Judicial District Judge Mitchell Turner said that he reviewed the mental health records, and there was nothing in the records that would be material to the second-degree sexual abuse case of Bruce Braggs. However, he will allow Braggs' attorney, Ray Scheetz, to review the records in the court's presence, as requested by Scheetz.

The state had opposed allowing the review. Linn County Attorney Harold Denton said what a sexual assault victim tells her psychologist shouldn't be made public.

A hearing is set 1:30 p.m. Aug. 28, after Scheetz's review of the records, to discuss any further matters in the case.

Braggs, 33, of Cedar Rapids, is accused of breaking into the home of a 19-year-old woman and raping her in 2007. He also is charged with first-degree burglary. The trial is set for Sept. 21.