Judge dismisses rape, other charges
The case against a man accused more than 20 years later of sexually assaulting his babysitter when he was a juvenile was dismissed Tuesday in Washington County Court.
Richard Eli Barlow, now 34, of Washington, was charged last year with acts that were alleged to have taken place in his South Franklin Township home between 1993 and 1998. At the time the assaults began, he was 10 and the sitter was 12.
The woman reported the course of conduct during a separate investigation into another incident that resulted in the successful prosecution of a different defendant, said Assistant District Attorney Kristin Clingerman.
In Barlow’s situation, case law on the statute of limitations has changed over the years.
The alleged victim had 12 years to report the crime from the time she turned 18. Barlow’s attorney, Gary Gerson, determined the report was made three days too late.
The victim asked that Barlow have a mental evaluation, to which he consented. Due to cancer surgery, he was unable to address the court, Clingerman said.
Judge Michael Lucas dismissed charges of rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault and indecent assault on an unaware or unconscious person.