Antonio Pushes to End Statute of Limitations on Rape
November 7, 2022
Nickie J. Antonio News
Today, state Senator Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) issued a statement in response to the Ohio Supreme Court’s ruling that overturned the conviction of Ralph Bortree for the 1993 attempted aggravated murder of Anita Clark in Logan County:
“This case is glaring evidence that we need to end Ohio’s statute of limitations on rape and eliminate that arbitrary line in the sand so that justice can be served for survivors and their families. Because it took more than 20 years for DNA evidence to convict Mr. Bortree, prosecutors could not seek his indictment for rape, something that could have kept him from walking free today. Despite hard evidence linking him to the crime, he will suffer no penalties, in part due to our state’s woefully inadequate 25-year statute of limitations on cases of rape and sexual assault.”
Ralph Bortree was indicted for attempted aggravated murder during a kidnapping and a rape in 1993. Because the statute of limitations had elapsed for all of the offenses, the Logan County Prosecuting Attorney sought only to indict Mr. Bortree for attempted aggravated murder.
Senator Antonio’s bill, Senate Bill 198, would eliminate the statute of limitations on rape and sexual assault.
“This case is glaring evidence that we need to end Ohio’s statute of limitations on rape and eliminate that arbitrary line in the sand so that justice can be served for survivors and their families. Because it took more than 20 years for DNA evidence to convict Mr. Bortree, prosecutors could not seek his indictment for rape, something that could have kept him from walking free today. Despite hard evidence linking him to the crime, he will suffer no penalties, in part due to our state’s woefully inadequate 25-year statute of limitations on cases of rape and sexual assault.”
Ralph Bortree was indicted for attempted aggravated murder during a kidnapping and a rape in 1993. Because the statute of limitations had elapsed for all of the offenses, the Logan County Prosecuting Attorney sought only to indict Mr. Bortree for attempted aggravated murder.
Senator Antonio’s bill, Senate Bill 198, would eliminate the statute of limitations on rape and sexual assault.