Federal prosecutors accuse a Missouri man of creating child pornography more than a decade ago. Officials claim that he began producing the illicit content in 2001 and continued to use a minor child to create pornography until the middle of 2004. Federal prosecutors allege that the pornography started to show up on the Internet in the fall of 2005.

The 73-year-old Gladstone, Missouri, resident has been indicted on federal child pornography charges. An indictment is a charging document that has been reviewed by a grand jury. It is not a finding of guilt in a criminal case.

Authorities arrested the Gladstone man earlier this month. Officials believe that recent online chats suggest that the man is still interested in minor children–claiming that he has stated online that he likes to people watch (including watching people characterized by the 73-year-old as “young folks” or kids”) in public places, according to Fox 4 News. Prosecutors want the man held without bond pending further proceedings in federal court.

Statutes of limitations can vary widely in criminal cases. For instance, the Congressional Research Service says that there is no statute of limitations on several different types of felony offenses, including some federal sex offenses.

Statutes of limitations are important in many ways.

Defending against allegations that are decades old can leave a person with little access to exculpatory information. Witnesses may not remember events clearly and accurately after years have passed.

Despite the fact that some offenses may not have a statute of limitations, it is important to consider having a federal criminal defense attorney review the legal issues in addition to the factual allegations to protect rights when facing a federal charge.

Source: Fox 4 News KC, “Gladstone man, 73, indicted on child porn charges,” Nov. 18, 2013