The 11-year-old girl avoided the gaze of the cross examiner, keeping her eyes mostly toward the wall or the floor of Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge John A. Zottola's courtroom.

Young sexual assault victims frequently testify in court, but yesterday's case was a rare one, as the victim had to speak directly to the man she claimed had attacked her -- Robert Castaphney.

Mr. Castaphney, 40, of Larimer, acted as his own attorney in the case, giving him the opportunity to cross examine all witnesses, including the alleged victim. He said he had no legal training.

A jury found Mr. Castaphney guilty on all seven charges yesterday, including three counts of indecent assault and two counts of indecent exposure.

Though erratic, Mr. Castaphney remained respectful toward the victim, who testified that he had assaulted her three times, when she was 7 and 8 years old.

"Don't be nervous," Mr. Castaphney said when he began questioning the girl, without approaching the witness stand as directed by Judge Zottola.

"Don't think I'm mad at you for any reason."

Mr. Castaphney broke legal convention at almost every turn, and Assistant District Attorney Chris Hoffman frequently objected to his questions, which often were just statements, like when he told the victim: "I know you really don't want to be here."

Mr. Castaphney argued that the girl's story has been inconsistent because she has been coached by her father, who had a grudge against Mr. Castaphney. After the girl told her father about the assaults in June 2007, he reported them to police, resulting in Mr. Castaphney's arrest.

During his closing argument, Mr. Castaphney attacked the public defender's office, claiming it prevented him from getting the proper documentation for his defense. Mr. Castaphney filed complaints against two assigned public defenders before deciding he would be better off representing himself.

"Keep in mind I'm not a professional," he told the jury. "I really don't know how to present a case like this. ... Don't you give [the prosecution] any breaks."

But Mr. Castaphney might have given Mr. Hoffman breaks when he told jurors he had 13 children and referenced his own criminal past.

Instead of addressing the jury, Mr. Castaphney stood next to the prosecution table and glowered at Mr. Hoffman while delivering his opening statement, an image Mr. Hoffman wielded in his closing.

"Imagine how scary that would be to a 7-year-old," Mr. Hoffman said, "to have him standing over you, saying those things to you."