Louisiana Woman Ordered to Pay Man Who Raped Her Child Support After Losing Custody Battle

A Louisiana woman, who was raped at 16 by a 30-year-old-man, was ordered by a judge to pay child support and give up custody of their child to her abuser.

According to WBRZ, Crysta Abelseth, now 32, was raped by John Barnes, now 46, in 2005. At the time, Abelseth said she accepted a ride home from Barnes when her friend decided to leave dinner early at a restaurant in Hammond city.

However, Daily Mail reported that Barnes brought her to his house instead of bringing her home and raped her. Abelseth then told her relatives and friends that her pregnancy, a byproduct of rape, was from a relationship she had at the time. She gave birth to a baby girl and moved on with her life.

A DNA test confirmed that Barnes was the biological father of the child. Abelseth filed a sexual assault report against Barnes in 2015 and fiercely fought to have her child in her care.

But the Louisiana woman's custody rights over her 16-year-old daughter were revoked last month over an allegation by Barnes that she bought a cellphone for the teen.

Judge Jeffrey Cashe also ordered Abelseth to pay child support to her rapist.

Rape Suspect Threatens Louisiana Woman of Getting Child 'Multiple Times'

John Barnes, a digital branding site owner, learned about their then-five-year-old daughter in 2010 and started a legal battle against Crysta Abelseth to obtain custody rights.

"Once he found out about her, he pursued custody and wanted to take her away from me. They granted him 50/50 custody despite the fact that [the child] was caused by rape," the Louisiana woman told WBRZ.

Abelseth also claimed that Barnes threatened her multiple times. She said Barnes told her he has connections in the justice system, so she better be careful as he can take her daughter away anytime he wants to.

"I didn't believe him until it happened," Abelseth noted.

Louisiana Woman Losing Hope After Her Daughter Was Taken by Rape Suspect

The Louisiana woman said her daughter being taken away from her made her less confident that she would be served with fair justice.

Crysta Abelseth believes the sexual assault report she filed in 2015 against John Barnes with Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office has not been thoroughly investigated.

Abelseth said it was never assigned to a detective, and nothing was investigated. The Louisiana woman noted that he waited until 2015 because she did not understand the law when she was younger.

Abelseth said she thought there was nothing she could do when she did not report it the next day, but her trauma counselor told her there was still time.

Although Barnes admitted he was the biological father of his child with Abelseth, he has yet to be charged in connection with the rape allegations. He was also not been prosecuted for statutory rape.

Despite the investigation, which the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office said was still open, Barnes was still granted full custody of the child.

Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault attorney Sean Cassidy told WBRZ that he had never seen a case like this.

"It seems pretty straight-forward that not only did a crime take place, but as a result of the crime, this person should not have custody of the child," Cassidy noted.

The Louisiana woman, who has appealed the judge's decision, said a hearing is scheduled next month to revoke Barnes' parental rights.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Rape Victim Ordered to Pay Her Abuser Child Support - From WBRZ