Can I prosecute someone who molested me as a child and I’m an adult now?
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Can I prosecute someone who molested me as a child and I’m an adult now?
If my grandfather molested me at the age of 11 and my younger sister at the age of 9, can I still prosecute for what happened? He scared me and my sister into not telling anyone. I recently told my mother and father what happened. I’m 23 years old now and my sister is 21. Could someone point me in the right direction?
Asked on March 10, 2018 under Criminal Law, Florida
Answers:
M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 6 years ago | Contributor
You are very brave to come forward about this. Being in that situation and taken advantage of by someone who was supposed to protect you and coming through it all can only mean that you are a survivor and that there are only good things ahead. By prosecute do you mean criminally or civilly? You can sue your Grandfather in a civil law suit. You have 7 years after turning 18. You and your sister should seek out a very good personal injury attorney to do so as soon as possible. Criminal prosecution is, of course, done by the District Attorney. Florida did a wonderful thing in 2010. They took away the statute of limitatios in sexual abuse cases where the minor was youuger than 16. So please go and speak with an attorney who can help be the liason for the DA and see if you can go after him with everything you have. The therapy is a great idea as well. Good luck to you.
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