Girl jailed after failing to testify at trial of accused molester

AKRON, Ohio (AP) -- A 14-year-old girl is in jail after failing to testify at the trial of a man accused of molesting her.

Common Pleas Judge James Murphy has ordered the teen held indefinitely.

She's been incarcerated since Wednesday at the Summit County Jail, where she's isolated from adult inmates.

Murphy tried to have the girl placed in the juvenile detention.

But Juvenile Court Judge Linda Tucci Teodosio said federal law prevents the detention of juveniles who are not accused of a crime.

Prosecutors say the teen is a material witness and they want her jailed for her safety.

Defense attorneys say the girl denied having sex but prosecutors are trying to coerce her into testifying.

20-year-old Galo Sanchez-Pesantes of Akron is accused of having unlawful sexual conduct with her in January.