In 2005 a Lousiana woman by the name of Crysta Abelseth was raped by a man named John Barnes, shortly after she accepted his offer for a ride home, following a dinner with friends. The incident occurred when Abelseth was 16 years old and Barnes was 30 years old.
"Instead of bringing me home, he brought me to his house. Once inside, he raped me on his leaving room couch," said Abelseth as she recalled the traumatizing event that would lead to her pregnancy. After Abelseth gave birth to their baby girl, she managed to keep it a secret from her assailant for nearly six years. But when Barnes found out, he immediately sought parental rights and was subsequently granted 50/50 custody by a judge. Now, in a strange turning of events, not only has Abelseth been ordered to turn over custody of her daughter to the man who once raped her, but she has also been instructed to pay him child support in the process. The ruling was made by Judge Jeffery Cashe after Barnes alleged that Abelseth bought their daughter a cell phone. Although the ruling has outraged human rights advocates, nationwide, Abelseth did not appear to be surprised by the outcome.
"[Barnes is] well connected," Abelseth said. "He's threatened me multiple times, saying he has connections in the justice system, so I better be careful and he can take her away anytime he wants to. I didn't believe him until it happened."
For more on Crysta Abelseth's legal battle with her former assailant, click the link below.
Source: Dailymail
