HELENA, Mont. (NMB) – Six bills in the Montana Legislature would revise the statute of limitations for sex crimes, including House Bill 109, which would eliminate time limits for child sex abuse cases completely.
Tim Pierce with the UM Legislative News Service reports that Attorney John Heenan represents 31 survivors of child sex abuse from Miles City, where retired high school athletic trainer James Jensen admitted last year to sexually abusing students. Heenan said because of the time limit, they could only bring a civil case against him.
“It’s so important we don’t have a statute of limitations, where pedophiles and child molesters can circle a date on a calendar and know they can get away with it.”
James Jensen’s daughter Kristen Newby supported the bill at a hearing Wednesday.
“He was able to get away with his crimes for a very long time because of a system that was set up to protect him more than it was set up to protect the students.”
Thirty-seven states have already lifted the statute of limitations on child sex crimes.
