Court refuses to restrict questioning by Minuteman founder

PHOENIX (AP) - An Arizona appellate court is refusing to prohibit a Minuteman border-watch movement founder from cross-examining two young girls he is accused of sexually abusing.

Christopher Allen Simcox is representing himself in his case and wants to personally cross-examine the girls allegedly molested in 2013.

The prosecution sought to bar that from happening, and jury selection was put on hold while the cross-examination issue was appealed.

The Court of Appeals on Friday refused to block cross-examination of the child witnesses by Simcox. The court said such restrictions are possible but that prosecutors hadn't presented evidence on what that step is necessary to protect the witnesses from trauma.

The movement that Simcox helped found stepped into the spotlight in 2005 as illegal immigration heated up as a national political issue.