Child Sexual Abuse in Colorado
Traditionally, relations between the teacher and the student are considered to be sacrosanct. However, the history is replete with instances wherein a student is sexually abused by the teacher. Colorado is no exception to this. Since children are unaware of the fact that they are being exploited sexually, they often fail to report the child abuse matter either to their parents or to someone they trust.
Childhood sexual abuse is extremely traumatic for the abuse victims and often leads to a troubled adulthood. Though the laws are present to protect victims of abuse, at times their interpretation and statute of limitations forces the sexually abused child to keep mum about it or withhold their feelings and thoughts about what is happening to them. Only after they have reached certain maturity level the child abuse victim realizes that they can seek justice.
Escaping Conviction by Pleading Guilty – A Loophole in Legal System
Courtney Bowles, a 31-year old instructional coach from Fort Collins, Colorado managed to circumvent serious charges in this child sexual abuse case by pleading guilty for causing serious bodily injury due to sexual physical abuse. If the bail plea is accepted, she probably will be under probation for 10 years and may spend 90 days behind bars. Unlike other sexual abuse of child cases, the misdeeds of Bowles were discovered by law enforcement personnel when he found this Mountain View High School coach in a compromising position with a student of hers in a car. The age of the sexually abused student was later found to be 16.
The Law Will Not Help You If The Statute of Limitations Has Run Out
Jennifer was 15 when she was first sexually abused by her track coach. By age 17, both of them were having regular sex. The girl in question now is 41-years old and is running from pillar to pillar to obtain justice. According to Jennifer, the victim of coach abuse in this case, most of the sex abuse crimes against students go unreported. Retelling her horrors, Jennifer said that since the coach was extremely popular, she thought that if she reported the abuse, she would be the one vilified. The reason why Jennifer was unable to bring the perpetrator of this crime to the books was because of statute of limitations in Colorado had run out.
Colorado Sexual Abuse and Clergy Abuse Statute of Limitations
The state of Colorado has a delayed tolling statute for sexual offenses against minors. The delay is six years after the victim turns eighteen years old. However, this extension does not apply to claims brought against a person other than the perpetrator of the sexual offense.
Colorado accepts the concept of suppressed memory in sexual abuse and clergy abuse cases and has a six year Discovery Rule. Most of the state courts have read a discovery rule into the above statute, stating that a suppressed memory is a “disability” that triggers the six year statute only after the memory surfaces.
This means if you are 40 years old and your memory was suppressed until you were 35, you have until the age of 41 to bring your cause of action. Of course, you will have the burden of proof to show that your memory was suppressed.
If you were sexually abused by a priest, rabbi, coach, psychologist or any other person who violated you, please don’t feel ashamed. We want to help you.
A Helping Hand If You Are Survivor of Clergy Abuse or Sexual Abuse
If someone in your family or within your circle has been abused, it is time you consider contacting a dedicated attorney who can give you sound advice on what steps can be taken. Sam Rogatinsky is an advocate for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Mr. Rogatinsky is committed to the victims and survivors who try so hard to heal from child sexual abuse and he will take your call any time, day or night. His personal cell phone number is 954.995.3805. It does not matter if you live in a remote area or in a large city, Sam will work with you to help you heal from the trauma that you have endured. The only way to begin the healing process is to expose the sexual abusers and the institutions that protect these animals. Sam can help you, but you must contact him now.
Contact me, sexual abuse lawyer Samuel Rogatinsky at (954) 995-3805 or send an email to samr@sexabuseattorney.org