Florida Teen Accused of Lying About Sexual Abuse Shares Her Story

It sounds like it could be the plot of a fictional criminal justice TV show, but sadly for one Florida teen, her struggle to prove she was sexually abused is all too real.

She had not planned to share her story on this particular day, but after someone at her church approached her with questions about why she seemed upset, the police were contacted. She bravely shared that her adoptive father had been sexually assaulting her for years. Her story was met with disbelief and threats that she could be taken from the family and put back into foster care if this was all true. Tragically, she was treated more like a criminal than a victim.

Read more from Rachel de Leon from the Center of Investigative Reporting how far this teen had to go to prove her innocence and about the hundreds of victims alleging sexual assault who have been charged with false reporting nationwide in these articles below.

PBS News: Florida teen forced to collect her own evidence to prove she was sexually abused

Mother Jones: The Unflinching Courage of TC