Following decades of rumors and a two-year police investigation, Bill McKell, of Chillicothe, OH, confessed to being a child molester on social media. The eleven victims in the police report were abused during the 80s and 90s, and — under Ohio State Law — fall outside the statute of limitations for child sex abuse crimes. Despite his confession, McKell is free and clear of any crime.

It's time to put an end to the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse and assault crimes in the State of Ohio.

Bill McKell's victims were young; roughly 11-14 years in age. They didn't have the maturity to understand a crime was being committed against them. Only now, in their 30s and 40s, are these men able to clearly see that they were preyed upon and manipulated by a person they trusted. For this reason (and many others) it is absurd to think that a 20-year statute is a sufficient period of time to report the sexual assault of a minor.

THE BAD NEWS: Ohio's statute of limitations for these crimes is regarded as among the worst in the country.

THE GOOD NEWS: Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost are both in favor of extending and/or ending the statute of limitations for these crimes.

Please sign this petition if you would like to see the following:

- A much longer extension or complete abolishment of the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse cases.

- Any new statutes to be made retroactive so that predators like Bill McKell can be brought to justice in the State of Ohio.

RESOURCES:

Ohio’s statute of limitations for sex crimes among worst in nation, experts say (Columbus Dispatch)​

New law would eliminate statute of limitations for rape, childhood sexual abuse (News 5 Cleveland)​

After Ohio State Sex Abuse Report, Governor Calls for End to Statute of Limitations (governing.com)​

Ex-Scout leader: 'I am a child molester' (Columbus Dispatch)​

Former Boy Scout says leader’s abuse apology ‘too little, too late’ (nbc4i.com)