Alleged victim takes the stand in Niles ‘sextortion’ case

Published 1:32 pm Wednesday, November 2, 2011

The alleged victim in the Niles sex video extortion case took the stand this morning in the Niles Berrien County Courthouse.

Martise Washington, 18, is one of five Niles teenagers charged with producing a video of him and a teenage girl having sex and then threatening to post it to Facebook if she didn’t give them sexual favors. He is facing the second day of his trial today.

Questioned by prosecuting attorney Steve Pierangeli this morning, the alleged victim said she felt “scared,” embarrassed” and “exposed” throughout the incident.

She alleges that Washington, along with two of his co-defendants, forced her into sexual acts on March 18. During the alleged sexual assaults at the home of Washington’s friend and co-defendant Leon Murphy, she said she repeatedly asked them to stop and take her back to her home.

Cross examination by the defense will take place this afternoon.

For complete coverage of day two of the trial, follow nilesstar.com or read Thursday’s Niles Daily Star.