Marina Alexeevna Lonina, 18, along with with 29-year-old Raymond Boyd Gates, were indicted on multiple charges Wednesday. The charge? Gates is suspected of raping a 17-year-old girl, and while the assault was going on, Lonina decided to film and broadcast the rape through popular social networking live-streaming app Periscope.
The Ohio court decided to indict the duo on charges of rape, sexual battery, kidnapping and illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material, according to a statement by Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Ron O'Brien.
If convicted, both Lonina and Gates could face up to 40 years in prison.
The assault allegedly happened on Feb. 27 when Lonina, her friend and Gates were gathered in a house. It was in this house where Gates "forced sexual intercourse with the victim and Lonina started Periscoping," according to O'Brien.
Despite the Ohio woman's shocking acts, the signs that she was prone to posting compromising images of her 17-year-old friend in social media were evident the night before. Before her friend got raped, Lonina took a number of nude photos of her friend and posted them online through Periscope.
The teenager's rape came to light after one of Lonina's friends, who lives out-of-state, saw the uploaded images and the live stream of the assault. Lonina's friend promptly called the authorities.
Roger Soroka, who is representing Lonina in the case, has announced that the she "categorically denies" all the charges against her. So far, he has not announced any other comments from the accused.
Gates, on the other hand, does not seem to have hired a lawyer as of writing. He is scheduled to appear for arraignment on Friday.
O'Brien has stated that as of the moment, the real motive behind the sexual attack remains unclear. Considering that Gates, Lonina and the 17-year-old girl had been drinking, however, alcohol seems to have played a very significant factor in the incident.
Speaking on the issue, O'Brien has warned people about the inherent dangers of social media, as well as the possible legal repercussions of questionable content that are uploaded online.
"People need to know and understand that the use of a smartphone to video events can constitute serious felony crimes. They should think twice before they use their smartphones to either photograph or video anything that's of a sexual nature," he said.
