VERMONT
Times-Argus
June 04,2013
BENNINGTON — Under new legislation, which Gov. Peter Shumlin signed into law in Bennington on Monday, the statute of limitations for certain sex crimes committed against children has been extended so the crimes can be reported up to 40 years after they were committed. Shumlin, who signed the bill at the Bennington County Child Advocacy Center, thanked the legislators and prosecutors who “saw a wrong and chose to right it.”
“We all know that with a crime like this … it often takes years and years and years and years before the victim is able or ready or willing to talk about their trauma and ensure that justice is served,” he said.
Among those who attended the signing of the bill were Bennington County State’s Attorney Erica Marthage, Bennington County House representatives Ann Mook, Mary Morrissey and Alice Miller and Detective Anthony Silvestro of the Bennington Police Department, who is assigned to investigate sexual crimes in Bennington.
However, Shumlin said special thanks should go to Christina Rainville, Bennington County’s chief deputy state’s attorney, and Sen. Richard “Dick” Sears, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
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