Not guilty pleas from pair accused of live-streaming rape

The 18-year-old woman accused of live-streaming the rape of her 17-year old friend on the app Periscope pleaded not guilty, telling prosecutors she was recording the rape “as evidence.”

Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien rejected Marina Lonina’s claim, saying that the victim was clearly yelling “no” and “stop” during the attack, and that Lonina only intervened briefly.

Lonina and her friend who was assaulted are both naturalized U.S. citizens from Russia and both attend New Albany High School.

Lonina’s alleged accomplice, Raymond Gates, 29, also pleaded not guilty, although his public defender made no comment during Friday’s hearing.

4/13/16: Teen girl charged with live-streaming underage sexual assault on Periscope

A Columbus woman is charged with using an app to livestream the rape of a 17-year-old girl.

The app Periscope allows users to watch video that other users broadcast in realtime, and prosecutors say Marina Alexveena Lonina, 18, videotaped Raymond Boyd Gates, 29, sexually assaulting the girl.

The video was brought to the attention of authorities when a friend of Lonina alerted them.

Lonina and Gates face charges of kidnapping, two counts of rape, one count of sexual battery and several counts of pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor. If convicted they could both serve up to 40 years in prison.

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