<![CDATA[Jezebel: crystal]]> http://tags.gawker.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/jezebel.com.png <![CDATA[Jezebel: crystal]]> http://jezebel.com/tag/crystal http://jezebel.com/tag/crystal <![CDATA[YouTube Rape Teen May Actually Be Victim Of Girl-On-Girl Crime]]> "The Smoking Gun" has court documents that detail the story of Crystal, the Florida teenager who turned to YouTube after her rape case was dropped in by prosecutors. And it just might be a case of girl-on-girl crime. In police interviews, the 16-year-old describes meeting Casey Mundling (pictured), 23, at a party in 2007. She was 15 at the time. She told investigators, "I wanted a guy in my life 'cause my mom's boyfriends have never been there for me. And my dad wasn't there so I thought alright he's older maybe he'll respect me, but it didn't go like that." She accuses Mudling of "always getting" her "drunk, high on cocaine and pills" before they had sex. Crystal also says that Mundling threatened to harm her and her family if "she said anything to anyone." Last June, Crystal went to the hospital because she "was upset and tried to commit suicide."

But there are notations on this case from the State Attorney's office: Even though Mundling was arrested, the prosecutor was reluctant to move forward, writing that Crystal's father "wants this to be prosecuted. I really don't know the reason. He has full knowledge of [his daughter's] lifestyle and his is similar." Just who was the prosecutor on this case? A woman named Nicole Pegues, A woman didn't want to send a 23-year-old man to jail for having sex with a 15-year-old girl.

Documents show that Pegues sent an e-mail to the sheriff's office that read: "I guess I have to charge this case." She was dragging her feet, to say the least. Pegues eventually declined to file a case against Mundling "due to the consensual nature of the sexual encounter" and the fact that Crystal "was a mere 1 month from her 16th birthday" when she began having sex with him. Is this a case of numbness that can come from an overwhelmed, overworked court system? Or did Nicole Pegues take one look at Crystal's "lifestyle" — broken home, drugs, older men — and figure the young girl had gotten what she deserved?

Story Behind Teen's YouTube Rape Plea [TSG]
Earlier: Teenage Rape Victim Turns To YouTube For Help

]]> http://jezebel.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=391306&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Teenage Rape Victim Turns To YouTube For Help]]> The clip at left is a report about an upsetting YouTube video created by a 16-year-old girl named Crystal, who says, "I need some help. I didn't want to do it this way, but it's the only way I know that's going to work, that someone out there in the world is gonna listen to me." Crystal explains that a 23-year-old man has raped and drugged her and the Florida State attorney won't prosecute him. Writes CNN's Ashley Fantz: "For an online generation, the Web offers what traditional counseling does not. It's a chance to communicate without having to face someone or fear their judgment. Some people are seeking legal advice and medical information, and many younger victims believe they can warn others about their accused attacker, counselors say." And according to Scott Berkowitz, the founder and president of RAINN, the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, more and more young victims are talking about their experiences online.

"We noticed that this trend of posting details of an attack really picked up speed a few years ago," Berkowitz says. "A rape survivor's intention may be to reach out, and we encourage that, but this is a dangerous way to do it."

As for Crystal? Authorities charged the man of assaulting her with lewd or lascivious battery, but, according to court documents, Crystal and the man both said they had an ongoing sexual relationship. The prosecutor concluded that the Crystal and the man had had consensual sex. Even though Florida law states that a 15-year-old cannot give consent to sex. Since Crystal was "a mere 1 month away" from turning 16, the case was not prosecuted. Since when is 15 the same as 16? Since when does having having a relationship with someone mean they can't rape you? And since when did we start living in a world where people watch Crystal's video and then comment on YouTube thusly:


Alright, so you're either an idiot, or you're making this up. Contrary to what you think, rape is rape regardless of age. So either shut the fuck up and get a lawyer or...
And:
fake bitch is fake
And this gem:
It's all conspiracy they won't prosecute and everyone wants to kill you because you're poor. Nice job fooling CNN into posting your story though.

Teen Alleging Rape Turns To YouTube [CNN]
16 Year Old Rape Victim Needs Help [You Tube]

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