Alleged Cosby victim to testify before Nevada Legislature

Comedian Bill Cosby performs at The Temple Buell Theatre in Denver, Colorado in this file photo taken January 17, 2015. (Barry Gutierrez/Reuters)

CARSON CITY — An alleged victim of actor and comedian Bill Cosby and the victim’s attorney, Gloria Allred, will testify Friday in support of a bill at the Legislature that would eliminate the criminal statute of limitations for rape in Nevada.

Assembly Bill 212 will be heard in the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

Current Nevada law has a four-year statute of limitations. The bill is sponsored by Assemblywoman Irene Bustamante Adams, D-Las Vegas, by request.

A statement from Allred’s law firm said the woman, who will not identified until the hearing, will urge lawmakers to change the law because it is too late under current state statutes for Cosby to be prosecuted for the alleged crime.

Allred said she is testifying because she also represents a number of other women who allege that they were drugged and sexually assaulted by Cosby in Nevada, but who are also unable to either file a civil lawsuit against Cosby or have him criminally prosecuted because it is too late to do either under the existing statute of limitations.

One alleged Nevada victim is Heidi Thomas, who has said in media interviews that she was assaulted by Cosby in 1984 while he was performing in Reno.

About 20 women have alleged Cosby assaulted them over the years, claims which he and his attorney deny.

Contact Sean Whaley at swhaley@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3900. Find him on Twitter: @seanw801