Briana Renee Refuses To Attend Matt’s Sex Assault Trial Because She’s ‘Fearful’ Of Ex
June 5 2019, Updated 5:53 p.m. ET
WARNING: DISTURBING CONTENT BELOW
Briana Renee is a key witness in the sexual assault trial involving her ex Matt Grundhoffer, but she isn’t giving her testimony in front of a judge. RadarOnline.com can exclusively reveal the Little Women: LA star is only appearing by a pre-taped video deposition, as she’s scared to be in the same state as her former husband.
In the Plaintiff’s trial brief filed on Thursday, May 30, the victim explained that there would be three witnesses presented through video during the trial, which began on Monday, June 3.
“The deposition of Briana Kealiher will also be shown to the jury,” the court papers obtained from a Washington Court read. “Kealiher’s deposition was taken in the State of California by video tape. She is out of geographical reach of any Subpoena powered by this court and she has stated that she will not voluntarily travel to the State of Washington to testify in large part because she is fearful of being in any potential proximity to Grundhoffer.”
It is understandable why Renee is fearful of her ex-husband.
Renee filed for divorce from Grundhoffer in November 2017. Then in December 2017, she filed a request for a domestic violence restraining order against him for her and their son Maverick.
She claimed she found disturbing sexual messages between Grundhoffer and another woman that allegedly involved bestiality and the proposal of sex acts with minor children, including the proposal of involving sex acts with his minor child from a previous relationship. The restraining order was granted for five years.
Grundhoffer’s video deposition will be “first testimony provided to jury.” As RadarOnline.com reported, he revoked his agreement to have his counsel accept service of a Trial Subpoena.
“Plaintiff respectfully requests that this court find that Matthew Grundhoffer is an unavailable witness,” the court papers filed on Tuesday. May 21 read, “Matthew Grundhoffer actively evaded service of process for his August 21, 2018 deposition.”
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The alleged victim claimed that it appears he might be unavailable for trial, “as he is still within the statute of limitations for criminal prosecution.”
As RadarOnline.com broke, he has been accused of engaging in a sexual relationship with a minor patient while working as a counselor in 2009. The alleged victim, who is the Plaintiff in the case, sued the State of Washington; Department of Social and Health Services; and Child Study and Treatment Center on June 4, 2018.
Grundhoffer, 41, was not individually named as a Defendant and has not been criminally charged.
The Plaintiff’s Trial Brief also exposed more sick details of the alleged abuse.
She claimed Grundhoffer started to “single” her out for “special attention,” as he allegedly “spent a disproportionate amount of time with her.”
“Grundhoffer began telling the victim how much he loved her and that he trusted her and soon these communications turned into sexual acts,” the court filing read. “Grundhoffer would take victim into conference room located in Orcas Cottage that had blinds that could be drawn and the door would lock providing privacy.”
She claimed Grundhoffer would “kiss,” “fondle,” and “have her perform oral sex on him.”
The alleged victim claimed Grundhoffer would show her pornographic images on his cell phone. He also allegedly stole a pair of her underwear.
Grundhoffer has denied the Plaintiff’s sexual abuse claims during their time at the facility. He did admit to having sexual communications with her when she was released from the facility and of legal age.
“It was long after I worked there,” he said in his testimony about their sexual communications. “And to my knowledge, from what she told me, she was no longer a patient. She was an adult.”
Grundhoffer added, “No physical encounters happened.”