Teenager charged with livestreaming rape of friend on Periscope app

Your support helps us to tell the story

Support Now

Find out moreClose

As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.

Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.

Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election

Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

A teenager has been charged with livestreaming the alleged rape of her 17-year-old friend.

Marina Lonina, 18, is accused of filming the assault at a house in Columbus, Ohio, on 27 February.

She and her co-defendant, Raymond Gates, 29, are charged with rape, kidnapping, sexual battery and pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor.

Lonina was also charged with illegal use of a minor in a nudity-oriented material or performance.

Authorities were contacted when a friend of the victim saw the alleged images on smartphone app Periscope, which allows users to stream events live.

Ron O'Brien, the Franklin County prosecutor, said Lonina and the victim were socialising with Gates at when he raped the 17-year-old girl as his alleged accomplice filmed.

Lonina had also taken a picture of the victim nude on the previous evening, Mr O'Brien said.

“If Gates and Lonina are convicted for these charges, they each face a potential sentence in excess of forty years in prison,” he added.

Additional reporting by AP