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	Sex Crimes Victims Ask for Help from Legislators: Former Miss America Tells Lawmakers to 'Stop It Now' By Russell Haythorn 7NEWS February 6, 2008 http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/15238693/detail.html DENVER — A bill being discussed before state lawmakers would effectively end the statute of limitations for child sex crimes. During a committee hearing Wednesday afternoon, lawmakers heard from dozens of victims, including former Miss Colorado and Miss America Marilyn Van Derbur. Van Derbur is an incest survivor and quite possibly the nation's most recognizable and outspoken victim of sexual abuse on a child. She was abused by her father and didn't tell her mother until one year after her father's death. She was 48 at the time. Van Derbur asked lawmakers to pass the bill. Under current law, victims in Colorado have just six years to come forward after they turn 18. Experts said the scars are so deep — some victims don't come forward until they are well into middle age. "It happened when I was a young teenager. And it took me 30 years," said Greg Mandel who was abused by a teacher. Mandel fought back tears while being interviewed for this story. "I was abused from 3 to 13. I didn't really remember until I was 21. I didn't start seeking help until I was 30," said Kemi Chavez, who is also a victim of sexual assault on a child. The bill only allows victims to bring civil suits against perpetrators or public entities. The law would not apply to any criminal charges.
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