How the fuck is there a statute of limitations for rape in New York?

[Mermaid]

My father was thrown in prison in 2001 (arrested in 2000, trial was June 2001) for molesting my cousin in the 1980s.  Barely made the SOL.  No DNA evidence (she was a child, and kept quiet for all those years because she knew we needed his paycheck to help with my medical bills... the realization of that hit me very hard, and messed me up for a few years).  What locked him away was consistent testimony.  She had told her boyfriends - one of whom testified under oath in the trial about it - and the dates of her relationship with him sealed it.

You see, my father was a terrible person.  Abusive.  Physically to my oldest brother and my mom for a bit, emotionally to everyone after the middle brother was born.  We were all pieces of shit to him.  Enemies.  He tried burning our house down with us in it when I was 2 or 3.  He was into sick shit, like kiddie porn and bestiality.  He used to trade stuff with the guys at work.  He used to rant and rave about every little thing.  Our home was a prison.  Weekends were punishments.  I was that rare kid who loved going to school because it was safe and generally positive.

So, when he was on the stand, he tried doing the old "God, country, family" BS routine because he was, technically, a Vietnam vet.  He had worked in theater on various airplanes, as far from the fighting as one could be while still considered in Asia.  And, naturally, he only had consensual sex with my cousin magically at the time when she was considered legal, and that it was her fault for tempting him, and he made a mistake, etc. etc.

Of course, none of that flew with the DA, jury, or even judge, who didn't take kindly to him attempting to defend his character by wrapping himself in the flag.  Especially after her ex-boyfriend testified and the math didn't work out.  And after the harrowing, disturbing detail she provided.  And, for us, knowing things (that weren't admissible as evidence due to the SOL) like her wetting her bed frequently when she was 8 years old and other things.

So, yeah, I'm all for the SOL being lifted completely for things like this because NH's SOL range allowed us to put a monster away for ~14 years or so, and helped right a wrong that should never have happened to begin with.

Fun fact: my brothers and I all legally changed our last names to our mother's maiden name (and she's obviously divorced from him) because fuck him, and fuck his family (who, like his cousin Bill, are abusers and rapists and assholes too).  His name will not be passed on by us.

And, in case you think I'm full of shit, here he is: http://business.nh.gov/NSOR/Display.aspx...derID=6140

Those 16 counts are for the last year he abused her.  Because of the SOL, we couldn't get him on all the others.  But, he abused her from the age of 8 to 16.  He got off lightly, IMO, but at least we got him.  And at least he will never truly be free again.

A difficult story to read, Kevin. I am terribly sorry.