ARKANSAS : Rape/Molestation Statutes of Limitation
In the state of Arkansas, a person is guilty of rape if:
1. he engages in sexual intercourse or activity with another person by forcible compulsion
2. he engages in sexual intercourse or activity with anyone who is incapable of consent because of physical helplessness, mental impairment or mental defectiveness.
3. he engages in sexual intercourse or activity with anyone who is under 14 years of age, provided the offender is at least three (3) years older than the victim.
4. he engages in sexual intercourse or activity with anyone who is under 18 years of age and the offender is the victim's legal guardian or is otherwise related to the victim by blood or by adoption (incest), provided the offender is at least three (3) years older than the victim.
A person is guilty of sexual indecency with a child if:
1. he is eighteen (18) years of age or older, and solicits another person who is less than fifteen (15) years of age or who is represented to be less than fifteen (15) years of age to engage in sexual intercourse, deviate sexual activity, or sexual contact.
2. he, with the purpose to arouse or gratify a sexual desire of himself or herself or a sexual desire of any other person, purposely exposes his or her sex organs to another person who is less than fifteen (15) years of age, provided the offender is at least three (3) years older than the victim.
3. he, being eighteen (18) years of age or older, the person causes or coerces another person who is less than fourteen (14) years of age to expose his or her sex organs or the breast of a female with the purpose to arouse or gratify a sexual desire of himself, herself, or another person.
The statute of limitations for Arkansas state that victims of rape have six (6) years from the date the crime occured to bring charges against their abusers, EXCEPT in cases where there is DNA evidence to implicate the offender; when DNA evidence is present, the limit is extended to fifteen (15) years from the date the crime occured.
Bob rapes Jane. After five years, Jane decides to file charges against Bob. Because she has a limit of six (6) years in the state of Arkansas for the case to be prosecuted, Bob can still be tried for the crime. If Jane had DNA evidence of the crime, this time limit would be extended to fifteen (15) years.
The statute of limitations for Arkansas state that child victims of sexual indecency have three (3) years from the date the crime occured to bring charges against their abusers.
Bob commits sexual indecency with Jane when she's 14 years old. At first, she's afraid to tell anyone that it happened. Luckily, her mother finds out about the incident a year after it happened. Because three (3) years have not yet passed, Bob can still be tried for the crime.
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