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Nevada expanding statute of limitations after Bill Cosby rape allegations

Nevada’s statute of limitations laws are undergoing major alterations this week following the numerous sexual assault allegations facing Bill Cosby — particularly those of accuser Lise-Lotte Lublin.

Nevada's statute of limitations laws are undergoing major alterations this week following the numerous sexual assault allegations facing Bill Cosby — particularly those of accuser Lise-Lotte Lublin.

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval will today sign a bill that serves to extend Nevada's statute of limitations for the criminal prosecution of sexual assault in connection with the alleged assaults. To date, at least five women have claimed Cosby sexually assaulted them within Nevada's borders.

Lublin claimed in February that Cosby drugged her in 1989 during a visit to his suite in the Las Vegas Hilton. Since then, she has lobbied Nevada lawmakers to remove their state's statute of limitations completely and will speak at a press conference about the changes today.

Nevada law states that alleged assaults must be reported within four years of their initial occurrence to move to prosecution — which, of course, ruled out Lublin's claim completely. Once Sandoval signs the bill, that limit will increase to 20 years.

Cosby also faces allegations from several women who claim he sexually assaulted them in Nevada. Angela Leslie, for example, claims Cosby assaulted her in a Las Vegas hotel room in 1992. Barbara Bowman's claim, on the other hand, allegedly occurred in Reno in 1986, while Heidi Thomas claims a similar event, also in Reno, in 1984.

Similarly, accuser Linda Kirkpatrick says Cosby assaulted her in Nevada in 1981 at the Las Vegas Hilton.

So far, roughly 40 women have accused Cosby of sexual assault, with the most recent group coming forward this past April. Cosby has never been charged with a crime in connection with the sexual assault allegations he currently faces, and has repeatedly issued denials through his rep, Martin Singer.

[The Wrap]