New Bill would end statute of limitations on reporting sexual battery on a minor in Florida
A new bill in Florida would end the time limit a minor would have to report sexual battery. SB 170, sponsored by Sen. Linda Stewart and a companion bill in the House, HB 69 was sponsored by Rep, Tracie Davis.
“The bill was inspired by women such as Donna Hedrick, who was abused by a teacher and buried her secret for more than 40 years, and numerous others who could have reported and possibly stopped notorious repeat offenders such as Jeffery Epstein had the statute of limitations not run,” a press release from Stewart said.
A copy of the Bill can be read here: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2020/170/BillText/Filed/PDF
Discover more from Florida Action Committee
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Yes I know this first hand I had one person accuse me no evidence whatsoever everything that was gathered was actually in my favor and was still told I would be found guilty and ended up with 10 years in prison and 25 years of probation so yes all it takes is one person’s word
Two more bills extending time to prosecute have been filed. HB69 is a companion [similar] to SB170 specifically for sexual battery. HB53 covers ALL civil sexual offenses. Links below:
http://flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2020/69/BillText/Filed/PDF
http://flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2020/53/BillText/Filed/PDF
And this also concerns CIVIL actions – so now, for example, under the House Bill CP victims can come after people decades later.
So how is this retroactive bill, which will become law, constitutional? It is the textbook definition of ex post facto. Anyone who thinks this won’t affect registered citizens is living in a fool’s paradise.
This is another reason they do not want our law suits to be anonymous in Florida. If someone won a case to get off the registry and someone who was an accuser is made, they could have their kid or a neighbor kid lie and say we did something to them just because they are mad we got off lifetime registration. Happened to me when the judge ruled I could end probation early. The prosecutor went on a witch hunt and found someone to lie on me. I was fortunate enough to have an honest Police detective who said I passed a lie detector with flying colors. The detective interviewed the accuser who I did not even know and determined they could not even remember my last name when questioned away from anyone coaching them. They were offered a polygraph as well ( They were above 18 ) and they declined. The judge ruled there was not enough solid evidence to proceed but that one cost me thousands in lawyers fees for something I did not do, and someone I had never even heard of.
The timing of this is suspect, apologies.
Is this a kneejerk?
Is this politically motivated?
Is this in the best interests of society?
Why hasn’t this been an issue until now?
Too many questions are raised by this. I am ambivalent about this bill.
This is very scary. I live in the fear that I will overlook something and get violated and end up in prison without committing a crime. All someone has to do is be pissed off for some reason and point a finger and it is the end of your life. There are so many so called victims that are not victims at all and all it took was the statement that it was done. No physical evidence. actually no evidence accept that a statement was made and a finger pointed and bam! either take a plea bargain or life in prison. These threats are real.. I look forward to the day when I leave this earth and even then I will still be on Florida’s registry to inflate the numbers..