Rape victim ordered to pay her abuser child support

[Jimmy Higgins]

Clearly there are multiple injustices in this case. But if this woman now owes child support doesn't this guy owe lots of back child support?

He owes jail time.

That too. But since he hasn't been charged or convicted, I doubt it is going to occur.

But he ought to pay for back child support, especially if he is demanding current child support.

I would be surprised if it could occur--the statute of limitations is probably long since expired.

You didn't read the article, did you. Limitations are like 30 or so years.

 

[atrib]

Not that 30 year old having sex with a 16 year old is the greatest, but I do not think it should be a crime.

And yet it is a crime in most US states. An adult having sex with a 16 year is rape, whether the teenager consented or not. That is the law, and for good reason.

It is one thing for teenagers to have sex with other teenagers, it quite another for a 30 year old to go out looking to have sex with a 16 year old. It is extremely unlikely that a 16 year old has developed the emotional maturity to handle being in a sexual relationship with someone twice her age, but that is not true, or should not be true for the 30 year old adult. Fucking disgusting that you are here defending rapists.

 

[ZiprHead]

Seen elsewhere:

Timeline:

When she was sixteen he raped her. At a minimum, it was statutory rape. But it appears that she was drinking enough to be incapacitated.

Afterwards, she didn't report it. This is pretty common. Especially when the victim is a teenager. Why? because there are a lot of people she will have to deal with who will do exactly what you are doing: find a way to place blame and shame on her. You have speculated in a way to cast aspersions on her character without evidence of her doing anything more than underage drinking. In defense of the character of a man we know did something wrong. It's stuff like that that discourages reporting.

During her pregnancy and the first five years of her daughter's life she didn't tell anyone who the father was, and just let people make assumptions.

When she was 21-22, he apparently found out she had a child, did the math, and decided he wanted custody. He had a test done and got 50/50 custody. It's likely that he, being 37ish and her around 22, that he had more access to legal resources, so the outcome there is unsurprising.

At some point, she started counseling. Possibly because she now had to deal with the stress of dealing with this guy on a regular basis, having tried to just deal with it and move on until he forced himself back into her life.

During these counseling sessions she finds out that it is not too late to press charges, so she files a complaint. Why didn't she know this before? Probably because she hadn't had anyone to talk to about it before.

The police, with whom he has a business relationship, of course completely blow the case off.

Seven years later, he finds some technicality he can use to get full custody. Again, it appears that he has better resources than her, based on the fact that she is now relying on some advocacy groups to help her fight. Notre: this does not mean she is poor. Legal fees can be outrageous. Every continuance and court date costs you money. Deeper pockets have a serious advantage.

And the fact that it took him eleven years to get custody tells me that there are no serious problems with her parenting. Otherwise, it would have happened sooner.

The whole sequence of events makes perfect sense when you look at it from the viewpoint of a teenage girl whose decision making, in my opinion, became more adult as time passed and she grew up.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

There has to be more to this story, because if there isn't, this is an abhorrent breach of justice. Of course, this is Louisiana.

Why does there have to be more to it?

1) Child support laws are really fucked up.

2) As you say, it's Louisiana. Fucking a 16 year old is just being a manly man.

Yeah, well, sadly almost none of us live in Louisiana and so we can continue to fool ourselves that such things only happen in backwards southern states and not, for instance, in sophisticated urban northern states, I guess.

Which is bullshit. This happens in every single state in the union and all over the world, in every socioeconomic class that there is,

Even where laws are what we non-southerners like to consider more modern and progressive.

I'm not talking about whether it happens, but how it's viewed.

 

[Toni]

There has to be more to this story, because if there isn't, this is an abhorrent breach of justice. Of course, this is Louisiana.

Why does there have to be more to it?

1) Child support laws are really fucked up.

2) As you say, it's Louisiana. Fucking a 16 year old is just being a manly man.

Yeah, well, sadly almost none of us live in Louisiana and so we can continue to fool ourselves that such things only happen in backwards southern states and not, for instance, in sophisticated urban northern states, I guess.

Which is bullshit. This happens in every single state in the union and all over the world, in every socioeconomic class that there is,

Even where laws are what we non-southerners like to consider more modern and progressive.

I'm not talking about whether it happens, but how it's viewed.

As it’s viewed by *some* men. Or ‘men.’

 

[Loren Pechtel]

There has to be more to this story, because if there isn't, this is an abhorrent breach of justice. Of course, this is Louisiana.

Why does there have to be more to it?

1) Child support laws are really fucked up.

2) As you say, it's Louisiana. Fucking a 16 year old is just being a manly man.

Yeah, well, sadly almost none of us live in Louisiana and so we can continue to fool ourselves that such things only happen in backwards southern states and not, for instance, in sophisticated urban northern states, I guess.

Which is bullshit. This happens in every single state in the union and all over the world, in every socioeconomic class that there is,

Even where laws are what we non-southerners like to consider more modern and progressive.

I'm not talking about whether it happens, but how it's viewed.

As it’s viewed by *some* men. Or ‘men.’

I'm not saying it's right, that was a criticism of Louisiana.

 

[ZiprHead]

Outside review requested following WBRZ report showing rape victim ordered to pay abuser child support

Outside review requested following WBRZ report showing rape victim ordered to pay abuser child support

www.wbrz.com

PONCHATOULA - A corruption watchdog told WBRZ Tuesday he's requesting an outside law enforcement entity to come in and review the case where a rape victim was ordered to pay her perpetrator child support.

Less than 24 hours after the WBRZ Investigative Unit aired the story, District Attorney Scott Perrilloux also told WBRZ he is reviewing the case. Prior to today, DA Scott Perrilloux said his office had not received anything on it.

Monday night, we introduced you to Crysta Abelseth. It's one of the most egregious cases victims advocates tell the WBRZ Investigative Unit they have ever seen, after a judge awarded full custody to a woman's abuser and forced her to pay child support.

"I've been doing this a long time," Rafael Goyeneche with the Metropolitan Crime Commission said. "I've never seen anything like this. This is confounding and deeply disturbing."

Goyeneche was so disturbed by the investigation, he requested outside law enforcement to come in and look into it.

"That's why I'm making a referral to another agency today, for them to take a fresh look at it to see if it rises to the level of an actionable felony, and the agency that I would refer it to would have the authority to seek an arrest warrant and arrest any culpable individuals in this case," Goyeneche said.

Abelseth maintains she was raped when she was 16 and came away from that encounter pregnant. It happened after she left a bar with John Barnes, who was 30-years old. She said Barnes agreed to take her home but brought her to his house instead, where she said the rape occurred.

 

[TomC]

"It happened after she left a bar with John Barnes,"

Wait a minute.
Abelseth was drinking in a bar? How did that happen?
She left with some guy. A guy who failed to check her ID.
Seriously?

I'm not condoning any of this whatsoever. Not underage drinking. Not taking a drunk chick home for sleazy sex. Not having a baby at that age. None of it.

But also not the pretense that she's an innocent victim of a predator.
Tom

 

[Toni]

"It happened after she left a bar with John Barnes,"

Wait a minute.
Abelseth was drinking in a bar? How did that happen?
She left with some guy. A guy who failed to check her ID.
Seriously?

I'm not condoning any of this whatsoever. Not underage drinking. Not taking a drunk chick home for sleazy sex. Not having a baby at that age. None of it.

But also not the pretense that she's an innocent victim of a predator.
Tom

Other reports are that she left a party. In my area, there are many establishments that have dining areas where one would have a meal with family, including young children and think nothing of it. I once had a car break down while driving through Wisconsin on a Sunday afternoon, pre-cell phone days. Nothing was open —except a bar which was filled with people including families with small children, all enjoying food and the Packers game. Lots of beer as well but not for the kids. Growing up in Indiana, I remember being fairly shocked to see kids in a bar, eating wings and running around.

That aside, I don’t care if it was straight out she got drunk at a bar and he took her home and had sex with her. Having too much to drink is not the same thing as consenting to sex, no matter what your age.

Taking a drunk person home for the purposes of having sex with them IS predatory behavior. Full stop.

 

[ZiprHead]

"It happened after she left a bar with John Barnes,"

Wait a minute.
Abelseth was drinking in a bar? How did that happen?
She left with some guy. A guy who failed to check her ID.
Seriously?

I'm not condoning any of this whatsoever. Not underage drinking. Not taking a drunk chick home for sleazy sex. Not having a baby at that age. None of it.

But also not the pretense that she's an innocent victim of a predator.
Tom

I bet her skirt was too short also.

 

[Rhea]

All the excuses for him.
All the blame for her.

The 30yo doesn’t have to be thoughtful and rational, but the 16yo does.

The 30 yo doesn’t need to ask questions or even follow up to see if his fling got pregnant.

But the 16yo should have an accurate understanding of the legal system.


Same old story. As old as time. 50 shekels for him, a lifetime of unwanted sex for her.

She’s just a vessel for his use, and if she doesn’t know that, she’s to blame.

 

[Toni]

"It happened after she left a bar with John Barnes,"

Wait a minute.
Abelseth was drinking in a bar? How did that happen?
She left with some guy. A guy who failed to check her ID.
Seriously?

I'm not condoning any of this whatsoever. Not underage drinking. Not taking a drunk chick home for sleazy sex. Not having a baby at that age. None of it.

But also not the pretense that she's an innocent victim of a predator.
Tom

I bet her skirt was too short also.

And I’m guessing she wasn’t even a virgin.

 

[TomC]

I bet her skirt was too short also.

Too short for what?
To say "No, I don't want to go anywhere with you."?
To run away?

I have a long and checkered past. My prudishness is based on watching and participating in some profoundly irresponsible behavior. And watching and participating in the results. Also, people making better choices.

This situation clearly resulted from multiple bad choices by various people. Unsurprisingly, alcohol was involved. And it started 16 years ago, I don't trust anybody's memory all that long.

Especially not when they have an agenda. Which cannot be determined from some vague and unsubstantiated assertions from the internet. Assertions based on claims from 16 years ago while everyone was drinking.

Maybe the Family Court has heard credible interviews, that they can't make public, but don't support the claim that Abelseth was violated.

I'm not claiming to know what happened. I'm certainly not ascribing felony crime to anyone. Nor innocence. I'm sure a lot more happened than we, a distant internet forum, know about.
Tom

 

[TomC]

All the excuses for him.
All the blame for her.

Who said that?

It certainly wasn't me.
Tom

 

[TomC]

If I understand this story correctly, 16 y/o daughter decided she wanted to live with her dad. At that age, kids have a good bit of pull with Family Court. So, that's what Family Court decided to do.

Now, Abelseth doesn't want to pay child support. So, it's an internet outrage. She's a victim of patriarchy, being expected to do the same thing a man would be expected to do, under the same circumstances.

Seriously?
How Feminist.

It's why I don't identify as a Feminist. I'm too egalitarian to believe in special rights based on sex.
Tom

 

[laughing dog]

I bet her skirt was too short also.

Too short for what?
To say "No, I don't want to go anywhere with you."?
To run away?......

Tom

Do you realize that your response is simply an example of eye-opening statutory rape apologia?

What you seem to be unable to grasp is that this young woman was underage which meant whether you like it or not, ouisiana law. That she may have been in a bar is irrelevant to that fact. What happened in a bar is irrelevant to that fact. Whether or not she said yes is irrelevant to that fact.

 

[Toni]

I bet her skirt was too short also.

Too short for what?
To say "No, I don't want to go anywhere with you."?
To run away?

I have a long and checkered past. My prudishness is based on watching and participating in some profoundly irresponsible behavior. And watching and participating in the results. Also, people making better choices.

This situation clearly resulted from multiple bad choices by various people. Unsurprisingly, alcohol was involved. And it started 16 years ago, I don't trust anybody's memory all that long.

Especially not when they have an agenda. Which cannot be determined from some vague and unsubstantiated assertions from the internet. Assertions based on claims from 16 years ago while everyone was drinking.

Maybe the Family Court has heard credible interviews, that they can't make public, but don't support the claim that Abelseth was violated.

I'm not claiming to know what happened. I'm certainly not ascribing felony crime to anyone. Nor innocence. I'm sure a lot more happened than we, a distant internet forum, know about.
Tom

What a disgusting thing to write. She was -6. He was 30. That alone is enough that it was rape.

 

[TomC]

What a disgusting thing to write. She was -6. He was 30. That alone is enough that it was rape.

I grew up with 4 sisters.

I know women well enough to know that they aren't necessarily victims.

You seem to believe that women are either weak willed vessels or monsters. I don't. Quite the contrary.

This is why I'm not a Feminist. I learned early on not to take women, or their abilities, for granted. I learned not to take their motivations as a given. Pretend that they're victims, due to being female, and one will punch a fist through your chest, rip out your still beating heart, and take a bite.
Tom

 

[Toni]

What a disgusting thing to write. She was -6. He was 30. That alone is enough that it was rape.

I grew up with 4 sisters.

I know women well enough to know that they aren't necessarily victims.

You seem to believe that women are either weak willed vessels or monsters. I don't. Quite the contrary.

This is why I'm not a Feminist. I learned early on not to take women, or their abilities, for granted. I learned not to take their motivations as a given. Pretend that they're victims, due to being female, and one will punch a fist through your chest, rip out your still beating heart, and take a bite.
Tom

No, I know the difference between a 16 year old girl and a full grown woman. So does the state of Louisiana. The fact that you do not is disgusting.

 

[Derec]

What a disgusting thing to write. She was -6. He was 30.

Negative six? That would be indeed inappropriate. Not to mention physically impossible.

But I assume you meant to write 16 ...

That alone is enough that it was rape.

Not true. Even in states with ages of consent higher than 16 (like LA) there is a difference between "carnal knowledge of a juvenile with consent" and actual rape.