Why did prosecutors in Pennsylvania charge Bill Cosby with sexual assault 12 years after the fact? Because the statute of limitations was about to expire. In Pennsylvania, “the statute of limitations for aggravated indecent assault, which is 12 years, had not expired. The statute of limitations for sexual assault vary by state and crime.” Let’s be very clear though, there is NO Statute of Limitations for any indictable criminal offence in Canada. Police can lay charges and the Crown can attempt to prosecute any serious criminal offence no matter how long ago it’s alleged to have occurred.
Prosecutors used new information to file charges before the statute of limitations expired.
Source: Why a Bill Cosby accuser is getting a second chance at a trial 12 years later