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Bill Extending Rape Case Prosecution Heads to Governor
By: Associated Press
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – A bill extending the time period for prosecuting rape and sexual battery to 25 years after the crime is headed to the desk of Ohio Gov. John Kasich.
The bill also provides an additional five years for prosecution from the time a potential suspect is identified through DNA testing.
The legislation comes as the Attorney General’s Office continues to plow through a backlog of untested rape kits, with numerous cases of DNA matches in a criminal database.
The House passed the bill Tuesday after agreeing to minor changes by the Senate.
Opponents have told lawmakers they believe the bill is unconstitutional because it creates two classes of offenders – those whose cases involve DNA evidence, and those whose cases don’t.