Many people believe that what happened in the distant past is over and done with, but the criminal justice system does not agree. Prosecutors can charge people for offenses that occurred years ago. A West Chester, Pa., man recently found this out when he was sentenced to prison for sexually abusing a child repeatedly back in 2002 and 2003.

According to a news report, a New Hampshire judge ordered Matthew Scavitto, 39, to serve a sentence of two and a half to five years for sexual abuse. The abuse occurred when Scavitto worked as a counselor at Camp Tecumseh in Moultonborough, N.H. The victim, a boy, was between the ages of 10 and 12 when the assaults occurred.

The victim, who is now an adult, claimed that a camp staff member walked in while the abuse was taking place. The staff member alerted camp authorities, but they did not do anything to stop Scavitto from continuing his illegal behavior, the news article said.

Further, the victim claimed that if the camp had alerted law enforcement, Scavitto would not have been able to perpetrate further abuse of children while acting as a teacher years later at the Phelps School in Malvern, Pa. Prosecutors claimed he abused students at Phelps, a boys boarding school, between 2009 and 2014. Scavitto pleaded guilty to the charges in 2015, and a Pennsylvania judge ordered him to serve 11 months in prison, according to the news report.

If you or a family member are facing charges of sexual assault on a minor or an investigation that could lead to charges, the LLF Law Firm can help. Regardless of your location in Pennsylvania, the LLF Law Firm Criminal Defense Team is ready to assist you. The team has vast experience helping individuals who have been accused of sex-related offenses. From Philadelphia to Lancaster to Allentown and anywhere in between, the LLF Law Firm is your best choice. Reach out to our office at 888-535-3686 or use this online form to contact us.

Pennsylvania's Statute of Limitations on Child Sex Offenses

Even though Scavitto was out of prison on the Phelps case, New Hampshire prosecutors were able to go after him for the earlier camp case. The passage of time did not prevent the prosecutors from filing charges. New Hampshire's statute of limitations allowed the camp case prosecution. Each state has a law, called the statute of limitations, that sets forth the specific time period during which a criminal charge must be filed. The time period generally runs from the date when the offense allegedly took place, although there are many exceptions that extend the time. Extensions are common when the offense concerns child sexual abuse.

Pennsylvania has a statute of limitations for criminal charges concerning child sexual abuse. In general, the statute allows criminal charges to be filed up to the time when the victim reaches age 50. There are exceptions, but Pennsylvania gives prosecutors a large window of time in which to pursue charges.

If You Are Facing Sex Offense Charges, You Need a Strong Advocate in Your Corner

If you are facing sex offense charges involving a minor or any other type of sex-related charges, you need a skilled attorney from the LLF Law Firm. There are defenses, even when the alleged offense happened a long time ago. The LLF Law Firm Criminal Defense Team knows these defenses and will fight to clear your name. Get in touch with us at 888-535-3686 or contact us by using this online form.