AUGUSTA (AP) — A Maine lawmaker’s proposal to extend the statute of limitations in some sex cases is getting a committee review.
The Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee is scheduled to take up Rep. Anne Haskell’s bill today.
The Portland Democrat’s proposal has two parts. It removes the six-year statute in civil cases based upon a sexual act that’s committed by someone who has certain authority over the victim, so a case may begin at any time.
In criminal cases, Haskell’s bill extends to 10 years the statute of limitations on prosecutions for crimes involving unlawful sexual touching, unlawful sexual contact, sexual abuse of a minor, rape or gross sexual assault if the actor has authority over the victim.
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