COLUMBUS – A lawyer for a North Side woman charged with using the social media app Periscope to livestream the alleged sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl says his client “categorically” denies the charges.
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Attorney Josh Bedtelyon spoke Wednesday on behalf of defendant Marina Lonina.
A Franklin County grand jury on Wednesday indicted Lonina, 18, and Raymond Gates, 29, on two counts of rape, three counts of pandering sexually-oriented matter involving a minor and one count each of kidnapping and sexual battery.
Lonina is also accused of livestreaming the girl nude the night before the alleged assault.
According to Prosecutor Ron O’Brien, the rapes occurred on Feb. 27 at a residence on Christina Lane on the Northeast Side. The victim was socializing with Gates and Lonina when Gates forced intercourse with the teenager and Lonina live-video steamed the incident, he said.
One of Lonina’s friends in another state watched the live stream and contacted authorities.
O’Brien said it is unknown how many people had access to the live video.
Lonina, of Nafzger Drive on the Far North Side, also is accused of taking nude photos of the 17-year-old on Feb. 26. That allegation led to two counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material against Lonina.
Court records don’t list an attorney for Gates to respond to the charges.