Marina Lonina, a high school student in Ohio, is accused of live-streaming the rape of her 17-year-old friend. She appeared in court last week, and she pleaded not guilty to multiple charges that stemmed from the alleged crime.
Her attorney, Sam Shamansky, said Friday that Lonina, a student at New Albany High School outside Columbus, said that she was trying to record the assault as evidence.
She pleaded not guilty to a number of charges, including rape, kidnapping, and sexual battery, among other charges, according to CBS News.
The prosecutor’s office said that Lonina and the victim, who are friends from the same high school outside Columbus, met Gates while hanging out at a mall in the city, which was a day before the alleged sexual assault.
On Feb. 27, the three went to a residence in Columbus where Gates pinned the 17-year-old victim down and assaulted her. Lonina then filmed the attack on Periscope.
A friend of Lonina saw the assault and contacted authorities.
The prosecution said that Lonina had apparently hoped that live-streaming the attack would help stop it, but she ended up getting “caught up in the likes” after heavy online feedback.
“For the most part she is just streaming it on the Periscope app and giggling and laughing,” O'Brien was quoted as saying.
Her bond was set at $125,000 by a judge.
