A Carson City man accused of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl almost three years ago was granted permission Tuesday to have psychologists examine the girl.
Lawyers for William Gordon King, 47, told Judge Michael Griffin the results might shed light on whether the girl was actually assaulted.
King was arrested after the victim's parents said they found the girl huddled in the bushes near King's home on Tiger Drive July 3, 1997.
The victim's father told investigators he knocked on King's door while searching for her that night and that King denied having seen her.
King pleaded innocent to charges of sexual assault on a child under the age of 14 on Sept. 11, 1997. King was arrested after authorities interviewed him, the victim and the victim's parents.
Deputy District Attorney David Morandi said Tuesday the girl was not severely traumatized by the alleged sexual assault. He also said the case hinged on circumstantial evidence such as hairs found inside and footprints found outside King's house.
At King's preliminary hearing in August 1997, the victim's mother testified that the victim told her King touched her inappropriately. The mother also said she stopped allowing King into the family's home because he reportedly asked another daughter what she wore to bed.
King is out on $35,000 bail.