Mistrial declared in trial on sex charge

STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) — A Stamford judge has declared a mistrial in the case of a Norwalk police officer accused of sexually assaulting a girl because an expert witness improperly testified about the credibility of the alleged victim.

The Advocate of Stamford reports Judge Richard Comerford declared the mistrial Tuesday in the trial of Anthony Santo, who was charged with second-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor.

Santo, 44, declined comment.

Prosecutor Maureen Ornowski called the judge's decision "draconian" and "extremely unfair to the victim."

The attorneys and Comerford will meet again Oct. 24 to determine what comes next. There are no scheduled dates to pick another jury.

The girl, now 20, says Santo put his hand underneath her pajamas and touched her genitals when she was about 13.