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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spin Control

Child sex-abuse prosecutions extended

OLYMPIA -- Victims of child sexual abuse could report their assaults up to the age of 30 under a bill approved today by the Senate.

The bill extends the statute of limitations for charging suspects in child sexual abuse cases, which currently require a victim report the abuse in one to three years, depending on the age of the victim and some other circumstances.

Post traumatic stress disorder can keep a victim from reporting the abuse until after they become adults, Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, said.

"I think we want to catch as many sexual offenders as possible. We want to convict as many sexual offenders as possible,' Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam.

The bill passed the both the Senate and House unanimously.



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