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Supporters urge governor to sign bill ending statute of limitations for prosecuting rape

By Sophia Bollag
Los Angeles Times
September 6, 2016

http://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-sac-essential-politics-updates-state-sen-connie-leyva-and-supporters-1473189455-htmlstory.html


Flanked by alleged sexual assault victims and their supporters, state Sen. Connie Leyva (D-Chino) urged Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday to end California's statute of limitations for rape.

The Legislature sent Leyva's bill, SB 813, to Brown last week. He has until Sept 30 to sign the bill, which would end the time limit in California for prosecuting rape, child sexual abuse and other felony sex crimes.

"This bill does not abolish the very high burden-of-proof standard," Leyva said at a state Capitol news conference. "[SB] 813 simply ensures that the door does not slam in the face of victims."

Several of those who spoke in support of the bill said they were sexually assaulted. They were joined by attorney Gloria Allred, who said she met with representatives from the governor's office Tuesday morning. Allred is representing more than 30 women who say comedian Bill Cosby sexually assaulted them.

"For almost all of them, wherever the alleged sexual misconduct is said to have taken place, no criminal case will be filed," Allred said. "For most of these accusations it was simply too late for a prosecutor to even consider them." Several of the alleged assaults occurred in California.

Allred said that a number of Cosby's accusers "had no idea" there was a statute of limitations for rape prosecutions.

A woman identified only as Linda said at the news conference that she was sexually assaulted by Cosby in the 1970s and supports changing the law in California.

"I didn't report the assault because I was afraid of what might happen to me if I did go to law enforcement at that time," she said.

Cosby, who has said his relationships with his accusers were consensual, is being tried in Pennsylvania on three felony counts of aggravated indecent assault. The charges were filed just before that state's 12-year statute of limitations would have expired.

In California, the statute of limitations for rape is 10 years unless DNA evidence emerges later. Sex crimes against minors must be prosecuted before the alleged victim turns 40.

 




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