Rapist Demands Visitation Rights For Child

A convicted rapist in Massachusetts is trying to win visitation rights to the child fathered when he raped a 14-year-old girl.

Jamie Melendez, now 24, was convicted of raping a middle school student he met when he was 17 and a foster child involved with a church youth group in Norfolk, Mass. According to the victim's attorney, Melendez went to the girl's house when he knew her mother would not be home and pressured her to have sex with him. She said she felt threatened and intimidated by Melendez.

Melendez pleaded guilty to the rape in 2011 and was sentenced to 16 years probation. Judge Thomas McGuire, who oversaw the criminal case against Melendez, remanded the case to Family Court in the Spring where Melendez was ordered to pay $110 a week in child support to the victim.

Now, Melendez has filed a petition in Family Court arguing that if he is forced to pay child support, he should have the right of visitation, a situation the victim's attorney says would be outrageously unjust.

This woman was raped, and her attacker now says if he has to pay child support then he should have visitation.  Could you imagine having to turn your beloved child over to a man who sexually attacked you?  This jackass is just running a bluff to say if he has to pay money he'll make her pay in fear, but the child is unsafe.

Every set of circumstances is unique.  Let this be a reminder to people who dismiss rape as fitting into a very narrow storyline.  This man is going to haunt this woman forever, and use her own child against her.  Depending on how smart the judges are, he might actually win because somehow paying child support has become leverage for guaranteed visitation.