ANNAPOLIS (MD)
Baltimore Sun
Originally published March 17, 2005
The Baltimore man who shot the now-defrocked priest who molested him as a child urged lawmakers yesterday to extend the statute of limitations for civil actions arising from sexual offenses against minors to 28 years, from seven years.
Because the law requires victims of childhood molestation to file claims within seven years after they turn 18, many victims are unable to receive relief for their suffering, 29-year-old Dontee Stokes told the House Judiciary Committee.
"Justice is something that we are seeking from you," Stokes testified in support of legislation proposed by Baltimore Democrat Curtis S. Anderson.
Anderson's legislation also would create a one-year open filing period, so all victims, regardless of age, can sue. His bill was one of several measures to aid victims of sexual crimes that the judiciary committee reviewed yesterday.