She says he raped her. He says he had no idea she was underage and no rape occurred. Sixteen years later, they’re fighting for custody of the daughter conceived in the encounter.
The case is playing out in Louisiana, where sexual relations with a person under 17 constitute statutory rape, regardless of consent. Tangipahoa Parish authorities are now investigating claims made by Crysta Abelseth, 32, that she was raped by John Barnes, 46, in December 2005 during a one-night liaison when she was 16 and he was 30.
