Kane state's attorney backs removal of time limit on felony sex crime prosecution

By Dan Campana
Aurora Beacon-News
May 3, 2016

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-sex-abuse-law-st-0504-20160503-story.html

Kane County State's Attorney Joe McMahon Photo by Chuck Berman

Kane County State's Attorney Joe McMahon backs a bill seeking to remove a time limit on the prosecution of felony sex crimes involving minors.

Such legislation was introduced in Springfield last week after former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert's admission he sexually abused teen boys decades ago.

State Rep. Keith Wheeler, R-North Aurora, sponsored the proposed change to state law which currently allows for felony sex crimes against a minor to be charged, at most, 20 years after the victim's 18th birthday. Wheeler's amendment would remove that limitation for felonies, while extending to 20 years the time after a minor victim turns 18 for a misdemeanor sex abuse charge to be filed, according to the bill.

"This bill is a step in the right direction," McMahon said Tuesday. "It is a reaction in part to the events of last week."

As part of his sentencing after pleading guilty to skirting federal rules on banking transactions, Hastert admitted he sexually abused several wrestlers he coached at Yorkville High School in the 1960s and '70s. Hastert received a 15-month prison term for the financial crime, but Federal Judge Thomas Durkin acknowledged the sentence - which went beyond what federal prosecutors requested - took into account Hastert's past abuse of the young athletes, crimes well-beyond the current statute of limitations.

McMahon, who said he was contacted by Wheeler about the legislation, pointed out that it is "inconsistent with justice" for victims to see their abuser not be held accountable simply based on the passage of time. Acknowledging there are challenges with trying cases decades after a crime occurs, McMahon said there should be no time restrictions on prosecuting such cases when his office believes they can obtain a conviction.

Wheeler's bill - HB6569 - was referred to the House Rules Committee Tuesday.