A bill recently introduced in the California legislature would abolish the statute of limitations for rape and a host of other sex crimes. If passed, the law would mean that prosecutors could pursue sexual assault and other charges decades after the acts were allegedly committed.
The bill, SB 813, was written by state Senator Connie Leyva (D-Chino). As noted in the text introducing the bill:
- Existing law generally requires that the prosecution of a felony sex offense be commenced within 10 years after the commission of the offense.
- Under existing law, prosecution for the crimes of rape, sodomy, lewd or lascivious acts, continuous sexual abuse of a child, oral copulation, and sexual penetration, if committed against a victim who was under 18 years of age, may be commenced at any time prior to the victim’s 40th birthday.
- Existing law allows prosecution of an offense punishable by death or by imprisonment for life or for life without the possibility of parole, or for the embezzlement of public money, to be commenced at any time.
The proposed law would allow the prosecution of rape, sodomy, lewd or lascivious acts, continuous sexual abuse of a child, oral copulation, and sexual penetration, that are committed under certain circumstances as specified in the law, to be commenced at any time.
If passed, the law would apply to these crimes committed after January 1, 2017, and to crimes for which the statute of limitations that was in effect prior to January 1, 2017, has not run as of January 1, 2017.
Regardless of whether this bill becomes California law, a rape charge will remain one of the most serious criminal offenses in the state, with penalties that reflect the severity of the crime. If you have been charged with rape or any other sex crime in California, you need to retain an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately if you want to fight those charges and avoid years or even decades behind bars, thousands of dollars in fines, and registering as a sex offender. Call one of our experienced California criminal defense lawyers today to discuss your case.