Woman charged after allegedly livestreaming sexual assault on Periscope
It appears Marina Lonina may have taken no direct physical role in the alleged rape of an intoxicated 17-year-old girl by a man in February in Columbus, Ohio. However, the 18-year-old woman was present at the scene and is facing the same felony charges after live-streaming the attack on the video-streaming app Periscope, according to authorities there.
Charged along with Raymond Gates, 29, with rape, kidnapping, pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor and other crimes, Marina Lonina also faces additional charges of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material. The latter counts concern photos she is accused of taking of the 17-year-old a day earlier, according to the Associated Press and the Columbus Dispatch.
She is represented by attorney Josh Bedtelyon, who says she categorically denies the charges. An attorney for Gates could not be located by the AP.
Franklin County prosecutor Ron O’Brien said Gates, Lonina and the victim had been drinking and socializing at a Columbus home prior to the incident. He said the crimes came to light when a friend of Lonina saw the video and alerted authorities.
“People need to know and understand that the use of a smartphone to video events can constitute serious felony crimes,” he said. “They should think twice before they use their smartphones to either photograph or video anything that’s of a sexual nature.”
