A lawyer representing a New Jersey woman accused of sexually assaulting a 2-year-old girl argues that a videotaped incident has been “unfairly exaggerated” to deflect blame from the alleged perpetrator, as per a report.
During a hearing, Victoria Cranmer broke down in tears as a judge decided she should be held without bail regarding a “bizarre” and “troubling” event that took place on May 6. At that time, Cranmer was watching the girl at her home while the child’s mother was away.
Cranmer’s attorney, Marissa Kellner, stated that the 14-second Snapchat clip captured a “moment of innocence” and did not constitute a crime. “Anyone who cares for young children knows they often lack understanding of personal space or privacy,” she remarked.
“Young kids tend to follow their caregivers into the bathroom, touch things, ask questions, and are generally curious, often without awareness of typical social boundaries.”
The video allegedly shows Cranmer on the toilet, laughing while the girl interacted with her, according to prosecutor Lin Juan. However, Kellner asserted, “Children often exhibit amusing or odd behaviors that adults record for their memorable quality.” She emphasized that “the video is out of proportion.”
The judge, Ocean County Judge Kenneth Palmer, seemed unmoved by the defense’s claims, responding, “That’s a strange word to use.” He added, “It’s concerning that she didn’t try to stop the child from touching her.”
Cranmer, who is 25 years old, was apprehended after a friend discovered the video on her Snapchat account while using a phone he bought for himself after being at her place for three months. This friend was able to identify Cranmer in the footage due to her unique tattoos, including a crudely drawn image of breasts and other designs on her legs.
