What is the consequence of a statute of limitations expiring on a felony charge?

When the statute of limitations expires on a felony charge, it means that the time period allowed for the government to initiate prosecution for that crime has lapsed. After this time frame has passed, the state is barred from bringing charges against the accused for that specific offense. This legal principle serves to protect defendants from facing old accusations that may become harder to defend against due to the loss of evidence, fading memories of witnesses, or other factors that arise over time. Therefore, once the statute of limitations has expired, the charge cannot be prosecuted, providing a legal safeguard for individuals against indefinite threats of prosecution for past wrongs. This assurance of a time limit encourages law enforcement to act promptly in investigations and prosecutions.