ARIZONA : Rape/Molestation Statutes of Limitation
In the state of Arizona, a person is guilty of sexual assault if:
he intentionally or knowingly engages in sexual intercourse or oral sexual contact with any person without consent of such person.
A person is guilty of child molestation if:
he intentionally or knowingly engages in or causes a person to engage in sexual contact, except sexual contact with the female breast, with a child under fifteen (15) years of age.
A person is guilty of sexual conduct with a minor if:
he intentionally or knowingly engages in sexual intercourse or oral sexual contact with any person who is under eighteen (18) years of age.
The statute of limitations for Arizona gives victims of child molestation, sexual conduct with a minor AND sexual assault (adult) seven years from the time it happens in which the abuser can be charged with a crime. DNA evidence does not create an exception to this limitation.
Bob molests Jane when she is 14 years old. When she turns 20, she decides that she wants to report what happened. Jane knows that in Arizona she has 7 years from the date of the crime to file charges against Bob. Since it has only been 6 years, Bob can still be charged with a crime. If Jane waited until she was 22, Bob could NOT be charged with a crime because of the amount of time that had passed. Even if Jane possessed DNA evidence to implicate Bob, the statute of limitations does not permit Bob to be charged with the crime.
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