Jared Leto warned to 'be careful' amid key hurdle in sexual misconduct allegations
Jared Leto warned to 'be careful' amid key hurdle in sexual misconduct allegations
Ayaan AliFri, July 31, 2026 at 9:17 AM UTC
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The actor has been hit with controversy over recent days -Credit:AFP via Getty Images
Jared Leto has denied a series of sexual misconduct allegations after 10 women came forward in a new BBC documentary - but a former federal prosecutor says the biggest question now is whether the actor could still face legal action.
The documentary features claims from women who accuse the Oscar winner of behaving in a sexually inappropriate way towards them between 2002 and 2016, when Leto was in his 30s and 40s. He is now 54.
Among the allegations, one woman claims Leto assaulted her in a motel bathroom when she was 17. Another alleges he threatened her with sexual assault when she was 19 after the pair were unexpectedly left alone in a hotel room. It comes as Leto's admission about sending used condoms to Suicide Squad co-stars gets unearthed.
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A third woman claims she had sex with Leto in California when she was 17, which would be classified as statutory rape under state law. She alleges the actor "shrugged off" a conversation about the age of consent being 18.
A fourth woman claims Leto made repeated sexually explicit phone calls to her when she was 16 and, on at least one occasion, suggested they should have sex.
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Jared Leto has denied the claims -Credit:Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
The Dallas Buyers Club star denies the claims. His representatives shared a statement with the Mirror US that read, "I have never sexually assaulted anyone in my entire life. These claims are absolutely and categorically false."
While Leto has rejected the claims, former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani said any potential criminal case would depend largely on whether prosecutors can overcome one major legal obstacle.
He said, "Leto could be sued civilly of course, but the bigger question is whether he will face charges for sexual assault, sexual abuse, and statutory rape. The legal hurdle for prosecutors is the statute of limitations."
"California currently has no criminal statute of limitations for serious sex crimes like felony or aggravated child sexual assault, but that only applies to offenses on or after 2017 or for which the statute of limitations had not yet expired."
The legal expert says Leto 'could still face sex crime charges' -Credit:Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock
"Historically, many felony sex crimes had a 3 or 6-year statute of limitations. Nevada similarly changed its criminal statute of limitations for rape in 2015 from 4 years to 20 years, but that can be extended if the victim files a police report.
Rahmani also warned the actor what he should prevent doing going forward, "Leto has denied the allegations, but he needs to be careful about what he says publicly."
"His public relations team may want him to issue a denial in the court of public opinion, but that may hurt him in the courtroom if he is prosecuted or sued civilly because anything Leto says can be used against him."
He concluded, "The sheer number of alleged victims helps any civil or criminal case. There is power in numbers. Jurors may disbelieve one victim, but it is more difficult to disbelieve multiple victims who are telling similar stories of sexual abuse or assault. That’s what #MeToo was all about and why so many rich and powerful men in Hollywood finally faced justice."
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
