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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Diddy's Assistant Had a Nightmare She Was Trapped in an Elevator with R. Kelly — and Diddy Saved Her
Diddy's defense attorneys pressed his former employee over positive social media posts she made about him Diddy is on trial on charges of sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution and racketeering The jury has so far heard from investigators, Combs' ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura and several of his former employeesSean "Diddy" Combs' former assistant told a Manhattan jury that she used to look at him as her "protector" — and once had a dream he was saving her from disgraced R&B star R. Kelly. The witness, who is testifying under the pseudonym "Mia," was in court for the third day on Monday, June 2, as Combs' high-profile trial entered its third week. Mia's testimony, which began the previous Thursday, has included allegations that Combs sexually assaulted her multiple times during her tenure with him, and that he physically and verbally abused her during her employment. On Monday, Mia said during cross-examination that even after she stopped working for Combs, she remained in touch with him, especially following the 2018 death of his former girlfriend Kim Porter, with whom Combs shared three children. In mid-January 2019, a few weeks after Porter's passing, Mia wrote to Combs in a text exchange that she had a nightmare where she was stuck in an elevator with R. Kelly — and was saved by Combs. The bombshell docuseries Surviving R. Kelly, which followed years of sexual abuse allegations against the rapper, had just been released a few days prior. On the witness stand on Monday, Mia went on to say she considered Combs her "protector" at times. The 'protector' comment came when defense attorney Brian Steel questioned Mia about why she would reach out to someone she claimed had traumatized her. Mia said it was because she was "brainwashed," explaining that when she worked for Combs, no one acted like anything that was happening to her was wrong. This, she said, caused her to internalize how she was being treated, to blame herself and to feel shame. Steel's line of questioning reflected the defense's broader strategy: challenging Mia over her public — and at times private — expressions of care for Combs during the same period she alleges he was abusing her. Mia testified, several times, that she was stuck in a cycle of "highs" and "lows" during her employment with Combs, which she alleges created a confusing cycle of abuse in the workplace. Combs is on trial on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to . Read the original article on People
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cassie Ventura Breaks Down in Tears When Asked About 'Freak Offs' — and Shares Powerful Words
On the fifth day of Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking trial, Casandra "Cassie" Ventura broke down in tears in Manhattan federal court when she was asked about the 'Freak Off' sex parties that Combs allegedly coerced her into taking part in. 'I had to do 'Freak Offs',' she said on Friday, May 16, during re-direct on the witness stand. Ventura said Combs' moods 'affected my whole life, my career, how I felt about myself, my self worth.' If Combs wanted a Freak Off, she testified, her work had to be put on hold. To prepare for the Freak Offs, Ventura said she got herself ready from head to toe, set up the room, and arranged for escorts. She testified that Combs introduced her to a world she 'didn't know or understand at the time.' Ventura, who is more than eight months pregnant and nearing her due date, also spoke about the 2023 lawsuit she filed against Combs, alleging rape, physical abuse and more. On the stand two days earlier, she revealed for the first time that it was settled for $20 million. Ventura testified that she canceled a music tour after reaching the settlement with Combs because she felt overwhelmed and didn't want to be away from her children. Earlier, the defense suggested the reason was financial after securing the payout. She broke down in tears on the witness stand, reaching for a tissue, when Prosecutor Emily Johnson asked the question, 'Would you give that money back if it meant you never had to have Freak Offs?' 'If I never had to have Freak Offs, I would have agency and autonomy,' Ventura replied. 'I wouldn't have had to work so hard to get it back.' Ventura also testified that she had to perform Freak Offs even when she had a urinary tract infection, and she said she was assaulted more than once during them. When she discussed this, she broke down in tears again, saying that performing Freak Offs was something she felt she had to do to maintain her relationship with Combs. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Ventura has been the prosecution's star witness at Combs' high-profile federal trial and began testifying on Tuesday, May 13. She previously described being trapped in a decade-long relationship with Combs — alleging he isolated her, watched her and threatened to release compromising footage if she defied him. Combs is charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to . Read the original article on People
Miami Herald
06-05-2025
- Miami Herald
‘Father figure' sexually assaults girl while dating her mother, Michigan cops say
National 'Father figure' sexually assaults girl while dating her mother, Michigan cops say A 34-year-old was convicted of sexually assaulting his girlfriend's teenage daughter, Michigan prosecutors said. Getty Images/iStockphoto A 34-year-old man was found guilty of sexually assaulting a teenage girl while he dated her mother, Michigan prosecutors said. 'Questionable acts' by David Ryan Sampson of Flint occurred while the girl and her mother lived with him, Genesee County prosecutors said in an April 7 news release. The girl was under 10 years old when this behavior began, officials said. When she was a teen, Sampson would give the girl marijuana and alcohol, then sexually assault her, prosecutors said. The assaults occurred at the man's home and in public areas such as a lake. County Prosecutor David Leyton said the mother's boyfriend 'took advantage of a young girl who had looked up to him as a father figure,' according to the news release. The situation came to the forefront in 2022, when a friend's father overheard the victim confide in her friend about the sex acts with her mother's boyfriend, officials said. The father asked the teen, at the time sitting in the back seat with his daughter, who was involved in the assault, prosecutors said. The teen named Sampson. Authorities and the girl's mother were notified, and Sampson was eventually convicted of three counts of criminal sexual conduct involving a victim between the ages of 13 and 16, officials said. Leyton's sentencing is scheduled for May 2. Prosecutors say he faces up to life in prison. Flint is about an 80-mile drive northwest from Detroit. If you have experienced sexual assault and need someone to talk to, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline for support at 1-800-656-4673 or visit the hotline's online chatroom. Kate Linderman mcclatchy-newsroom Go to X Email this person Kate Linderman covers national news for McClatchy's real-time team. She reports on politics and crime and courts news in the Midwest. Kate is a 2023 graduate of DePaul University and is based in Chicago.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Yahoo
New details released on ex-Wichita County DA staffer arrested for child sex crimes
This story contains details from court documents regarding allegations of sex crimes committed against a child victim. Due to the content of this story, discretion is advised before reading. If you know or suspect that someone is being abused sexually, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1 (800) 656-4673. WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — The Wichita Falls Police Department released new details, Thursday, March 13, on former Wichita County District Attorney Criminal Investigator Dan Martinez's arrest for alleged sexual abuse from 1994 until the early 2000s. According to a release from the Wichita Falls Police Department, Martinez was arrested by Ohio law enforcement for outstanding warrants. He has been charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault and two counts of indecency with a child. Ex-Wichita County DA staffer arrested in Ohio for child sex crimes The charges come after an adult female victim reported incidents of alleged sexual abuse on February 13, 2025, from when she was a child. Police said three other victims have disclosed incidents of alleged sexual abuse by Martinez. The initial victim said the alleged abuse began when Martinez exposed himself, which then escalated when he touched himself, and forced the victim to touch him, before he eventually sexually assaulted the victim. Martinez left the DA's office in 2022. The same year, the victim told police she confronted Martinez and his wife about the alleged incidents of sexual abuse. One month later, the couple moved out of state. Another alleged victim said that in 2000, Martinez was driving her to school when he began touching her inappropriately. She stated this happened three different times and she told him to stop each time. The victim said Martinez always had his gun and badge on him. A third victim stated that when she was between the ages of five and six, Martinez would force her to sleep in bed with him with little to no clothing, and fondle her. Martinez allegedly threatened this victim and said that even if she told the truth about him, no one would believe her because of where he worked and who he knew. Since both counts of aggravated sexual assault allegedly happened between 1994 and 1998, the statute of limitations would have been 10 years after the victim's 18th birthday. However, the Texas laws were changed and the statute of limitations for aggravated sexual assault were removed in 2021. That change makes the offenses prosecutable. Also, for the charges of indecency with a child in the early 2000s, the statute of limitations would have been 10 years after the victim's 18th birthday. However, as that time frame extended past 2007 when the statute of limitations for indecency with a child was removed, the offenses are still prosecutable. Texoma's Homepage is working to find an identifying photograph of 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
