A strange case has come to light from Louisiana, USA, where a mother has to fight to get custody of her own child from a rapist father. The court has asked the woman to pay the money for the upbringing of the juvenile girl only to her rapist, who is the girl’s father.
Krista Abelseth, 32, alleges that a man named John Barnes had sex with her when she was 16. John was 30 years old at that time.
Krista told a news agency that in 2005, she had asked John for a lift to go home, but in exchange for a lift, he forced her to have sex with him. The girl became pregnant and gave birth to a baby girl. Now John’s age is 46.
The alleged rapist’s father claims that
in 2010, when the child was five years old, Barnes learned that he had a daughter and underwent a DNA test that confirmed that the girl belonged to him. Barnes then sought custody. Knowing that the girl child was born of rape, the court had given half the responsibility of her upbringing to both of them.
Krista had complained of rape in 2015. In early 2022, Barnes alleged that Krista had bought the teenage girl the phone. After this alleged claim, the case was strengthened in front of Judge Geoffrey Cashey. The judge gave full custody of the child to Barnes and asked Krista to pay the maintenance of the teenage girl to the alleged rapist’s father.
Case filed for seven years
Barnes owns a digital branding site. This company works for law enforcement agencies. It’s been seven years since Krista filed the case, but police have yet to file a rape case against Barnes. Even if they had consensual sex, according to the law, the age of consent (17) is still considered statutory rape.
Lawyer for the accuser claims
Christa’s lawyer, Stacy Trich, says Abelseth has been forced to pay her perpetrator. Paying for a child born after rape is meaningless. Krista is fighting to get back custody of her daughter. Krista claims that the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office has not properly investigated her rape report.
The woman was terrified by the accident
Krista, the woman who made the allegation, told a local TV channel that it was not possible for her to report rape 24 hours after the attack and I felt that I could not do anything the next day. I even went to a trauma counselor and he said that it is not so. Nothing is over yet. By turning 18 you will have 30 years to complain.
Not only this, Barnes also threatened me that he had good relations with the justice system and that he could take the child whenever he wanted. Then I didn’t believe his threats.