Louisiana woman, 32, is ordered to pay man who RAPED her when she was 16 child support and give him full custody of their daughter
Crysta Abelseth's life forever changed in 2005 after she accepted a ride home from John Barnes, now 46, when her friend decided to leave dinner early
'Instead of bringing me home, he brought me to his house. Once inside, he raped me on his leaving room couch,' Abelseth, 32, said
Overcome by trauma and unsure of what to do, Abelseth let friends and relatives believe that the pregnancy was the result of a relationship she had at the time
Abelseth welcomed a baby girl and moved on with her life - until her alleged abuser found out about their then-five-year-old daughter in 2010
Barnes, the owner of a digital branding site, then began a legal battle against Abelseth to obtain custody rights
Abelseth's custody rights were revoked last month over an allegation by Barnes that she bought a cellphone for their daughter. She also has to pay child support
A Louisiana mother who was raped at 16 by a 30 year-old-man has been ordered to give up custody of their daughter - and pay him child support.
Crysta Abelseth's life forever changed in 2005 after she accepted a ride home from John Barnes, now 46, when her friend decided to leave dinner early, Hammond local news station WBRZ's investigative team first reported.
'Instead of bringing me home, he brought me to his house. Once inside, he raped me on his leaving room couch,' Abelseth, 32, told the outlet.
Overcome by trauma and unsure of what to do, Abelseth let friends and relatives believe that the pregnancy - a byproduct of the rape - was instead the result of a relationship she had at the time.
Abelseth welcomed a baby girl and moved on with her life - until her alleged abuser found out about their then-five-year-old daughter in 2010.
Barnes, the owner of a digital branding site, then began a legal battle against Abelseth to obtain custody rights.
But despite filing a sexual assault report against Barnes in 2015 and fiercely fighting to have her child in her care, Abelseth's custody rights over the 16-year-old were revoked last month over an allegation by Barnes that she bought a cellphone for their daughter, WBRZ reported.
The ruling by Judge Jeffrey Cashe also forced Abelseth to pay child support to his alleged rapist, in what her advocates have branded an outrageous miscarriage of justice.
Barnes, whose company's client list includes law enforcement agencies, has not yet been charged with any crimes in relation to the allegations filed by Abelseth seven years ago.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10917169/Woman-32-raped-16-30-year-old-man-ordered-custody-child.html