An Ohio teen was accused of putting her friend livestream on Periscope mobile app while allegedly being sexually assaulted. Prosecutor said, the alleged rape happened in a Columbus home, committed by the teens' acquaintance.
Marina Alexeevna Lonina, 18-years old is set to appear in a court in Ohio over the accusation that she livestreamed her 17-year-old friend being raped by their acquaintance, Raymond Boyd Gates, 29-years-old on the said app, according to the Guardian. The arraignment for Lonina and Gates will be held in Franklin County court in Columbus, Ohio.
Ron O'Brien, a Franklin County prosecutor stated, the victim along with Lonina and Gates were socializing and at some point in the evening, Gates "forced sexual intercourse with the victim and Lonina began the live-streaming in real time the sexual assault," O'Brien said.
The prosecutor added, the defendants were indicted Wednesday and faces several felony charges, which includes abduction, rape, sexual battery and pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor, CNN News reported. Lonina was also charged with "illegal use of a minor in nude-oriented material or performance" and also accused of taking naked pictures of the victim. Arraignment for Lonina is set Friday, according to her representing lawyer, Roger Soroka.
Soroka says his client maintains her innocence over the case. Gates does not have an attorney yet. An unnamed individual, who saw the broadcast on Lonina's Periscope channel as it was happening, reported to the police, according to the prosecutor's office.
Each could potentially be sentenced to more than 40 years in prison if they are convicted, Washington Post reported. Periscope is a smartphone app which allows users to broadcast events live, is created by Twitter. It was revealed last month it had already been used to make 200m livestream.
Representatives for Twitter and Periscope refuse to comment on the case. Social media Twitter been facing issues with harassment in the past.
