Lawmakers Consider Changes to Sex Assault Limitations

By Sandra Gonzalez
News 3
March 14, 2015

http://www.mynews3.com/content/news/story/Lawmakers-consider-changes-to-sex-assault/IbnYfCeqgke7c_GGjv9cwQ.cspx

Reporting sexual assault in a timely manner could be getting the boot.

Nevada lawmakers are looking into possibly doing away with the statute of limitations on sexual assault cases in our state. A high profile celebrity's case has become part of the fight.

"I'm here in front of this committee to tell you this is what sexual assault looks like," said Benjamin Lublin. Lublin is now publicly coming forward about being sexually assaulted when he was 13. He's testifying as a bill is being discussed to remove the statute of limitations in Nevada, which is currently four years.

Then his wife Lise-Lotte Lublin testified next, but needed a moment to collect herself. She says her assailant drugged her drinks in 1989. "He began stroking my hair and talking to me. This was the last moment I was conscious. Next memory, I woke up at home," she said.

While she was told not to mention his name at Friday's hearing, Lublin has publicly accused Comedian Bill Cosby of the sexual assault. She says the assault happened at a hotel in Las Vegas. She came forward after hearing others tell similar circumstances. But authorities told her the case can't be pursued because of the statute of limitations. "I will never see justice and didn't do anything wrong," Lublin said.

Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney Jim Sweetin supports dissolving the statute."There's embarrassment, there's fear, there's concern about what it might do to other members of the family, and the statute of limitations currently cuts off those individuals from any sort of justice," Sweetin said.

A bill to remove statute of limitation on reporting sexual assault cases is under consideration

Daniele Drietzer, Executive Director of The Rape Crisis Center also supports Assembly Bill 212. "It's just something that touches so many people in so many ways, we often don't realize how many victims there may be around us or work with us," Dreitzer said.

But opponents such as attorney Lisa Rasmussmen says an extension would be better than unlimited time: "So our concern if this passes is that people will come forward and say this; 'So and so did this to me 35 years ago, 25 years ago, even 40 years ago. It's almost impossible to defend a case like that," Rasmussen said.

This bill would only apply to adults. There are statutes of limitation already in place for minors or adults with repressed memories of abuse.

Contact: sgonzalez@mynews3.com