Louisiana Mom Loses Full Custody of Daughter to Man Who Raped Her at 16

A Louisiana mom has been ordered by the courts to give up full custody of her daughter and also pay child support to the father, who raped her when she was just 16 years old.

For five years since that incident, Crysta Abelseth, now 32, has raised her daughter without the father's knowledge. However, John Barnes, now 46, found out about his daughter in 2011. He has pursued custody since then.

Abelseth did not file a criminal rape case against Barnes until 2015. Speaking with WBRZ, the mother said that everyone believed a boyfriend fathered her daughter and allowed that belief to be the case.

She claimed that she delayed the filing against her rapist because she did not know the law. A trauma counselor eventually advised her that she could file within 30 years after she turned 18.

Despite the filing, however, the rape case was not investigated. Worse, Barnes was granted 50/50 custody of their daughter despite Abelseth's complaint against him.

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Abelseth's Nightmare with Barnes

The mother did not know Barnes when she encountered him at a local restaurant in 2005. Then 16, she was offered a ride home in his car. Barnes was 30 when he took advantage of a girl who was intoxicated after a get-together with her friends. He did not take Abelseth home but brought her to his house, where she said she was raped.

State laws indicate that it's illegal to have sex with a minor in Louisiana, even if it was consensual. Abelseth insisted that she never consented to have intercourse with a man she didn't know.

In 2006, Abelseth gave birth to a healthy baby girl, and their life together was fine until Barnes found out about the child. He offered to produce his DNA test in court to prove that he was the father and gain custody of his daughter.

Abelseth claimed that Barnes often bragged about his "connections in the justice system," according to Jezebel. She did not believe him until things started swinging in his favor.

Her rape case against Barnes has remained open for public scrutiny, but records relating to her rapist were "mysteriously under seal." Reports noted that Barnes has a digital company in Louisiana, and one of his clients is the local police.

She lost full custody of her daughter because she recently gave her a mobile phone. Barnes alleged that she gave their daughter a mobile phone. The mother denied this.

Louisiana Judge Jeffrey Cashe granted full custody to the father. Cashe also had the mother pay for child support.

This prompted Abelseth to seek the help of Save Lives, an advocacy group fighting for the rights of rape victims. Abelseth met Stacie Triche, the founder of Save Lives, in early 2021.

Most Shocking Case Against a Rape Victim

Triche said via Fox News that Abelseth's case against Barnes is the most shocking case her team has seen because the rape victim has been forced to pay the man who violated her and give up custody of the child who was the product of rape.

The Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault (LFASA) could not also believe the case's outcome because it should be a pretty straightforward crime as the state's age of consent is 17 years old. Lawyers for LFASA said that the rapist should not even have custody of the child.

Abelseth and Barnes are due to be in court in July. Her lawyers have filed a petition to revoke his rights as a parent. On top of this legal proceeding, Abelseth said that she has been forking out years of legal fees to fight the man who abused her.

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