South Dakota Sexual Abuse
Many people have suffered sexual abuse at the hands of someone they trusted. Many of us are familiar with cases of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church due to several media publicized cases of priest sexual abuse, but church sex scandals are just one example of an issue that affects many in South Dakota. South Dakota sexual abuse also occurs at schools, camps, nursing homes, mental health facilities, and other places where circumstances allow. An example of such abuse is the case of Stanton Day of Summerset, South Dakota, who pled guilty to molesting a 10-year-old girl while he was a Meade County school bus driver. Speaking out about sexual abuse is important in two ways: It can stop the abuser from hurting others and it helps bring a sense of closure for the victim. Speaking out can feel intimidating, but you and your loved ones are not alone. Lawyers such as Sam Rogatinsky specialize in helping you find your voice in court.
Sexual Abuse
Unlike clergy abuse, sexual abuse can be perpetrated by anyone and occur anywhere. The most common places for sexual abuse to occur are schools, camps, nursing homes, mental health facilities, group homes, and organizations such as the Boy and Girl Scouts of America. Countless children have been sexually abused in South Dakota by those who were entrusted with their care, such as teachers, Boy Scout leaders, camp counselors, and so on. These adults are supposed to protect children, but instead cause them harm, such as George Krenz former 9th-grade science and social studies teacher at Hot Springs High School in Hot Springs, South Dakota who pleaded guilty to felony sexual contact with a person less than 16 years of age.
Adults are also sexually abused. At nursing homes and mental health facilities all over South Dakota, social workers and psychologists take advantage of the vulnerable adults that they are supposed to be protecting. Fortunately, the perpetrators can be made to pay for the pain they have caused, but you must seek representation. Sam will help to make sure that everything possible is done to assure that your suffering has not been in vain.
Clergy Abuse
Although the Catholic Church is not the only venue for sexual abuse, it has been the most publicized due to the lack of bishop accountability. When the media picked up on the fact that bishops were just moving sexually abusive priests to another church, news outlets ran with the story. The truth is that clergy abuse includes not only Catholic priests, but rabbis, ministers, reverends, pastors, office staff at places of worship, religious youth directors, and anyone who works for a place of worship. Such was the case at a boarding school run by the St. Francis Mission on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation, in South Dakota, where nuns and priests sexually abused many children, even though the Church was aware of the sexual abuse. If you or someone you know has been sexually abused by someone in this category, you now have an avenue of help available to you. You do not have to be a victim anymore. Contact Sam to find out how you can take control of what happened and help make sure it doesn’t happen to others.
South Dakota Sexual Abuse and Clergy Abuse Statute of Limitations
The state of South Dakota has a clear cut get to the point statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse. The sexual abuse survivor has 3 years from the date of the act or 3 years of discovering that the injury was caused by the act.
Although South Dakota provides for a short time limit on the statute of limitations, it makes up for it by allowing retroactivity for the statute. This means that the South Dakota statute of limitations could be applied retroactively to cover abuse occurring prior to the passage of the statute.
If you were sexually abused by a priest, rabbi, coach, psychologist or any other person who sexually abused you, please don’t feel ashamed. We want to help you.
Contact me, sexual abuse lawyer Samuel Rogatinsky at (954) 995-3805 or send an email to samr@sexabuseattorney.org