'Tiffany Edens Bill' heads to governor

June 9, 2009 | by Melissa Repko, The Oregonian | OregonLive.com

First-degree sex crime offenders may be prosecuted decades after committing a crime with a bill that the governor will sign into law.

House Bill 3262, coined the 'Tiffany Edens bill,' will eliminate the statute of limitations for first-degree sex crimes in which there is DNA evidence. The Oregon Senate passed the bill unanimously on Tuesday. The bill previously cleared the House and now heads to the governor's desk. Gov. Ted Kulongoski's office said he will sign the bill.

Victims of Richard Gillmore, the "Jogger Rapist," pushed for the measure. Gillmore, a serial rapist, was convicted of the 1986 rape of 13-year-old Tiffany Edens, but later confessed to eight other rapes he could no longer be prosecuted for due to the statute of limitations.

Under current state law, rape has a six-year limit. Last session, legislators changed the statute of limitations to 25 years for first-degree sex crimes in which there is DNA evidence.

Once signed, the bill will eliminate the statute of limitations for four sex offenses: first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy, first-degree sexual penetration and first-degree sex abuse.

The American Civil Liberties Union and Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association have voiced opposition to the bill, arguing that a defendant may not get a fair trial and DNA evidence may get contaminated over such a long period of time.