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2 Men Sentenced For Raping Woman They Met On MySpace

Men Met Victim Through MySpace Web Site

POSTED: 5:54 pm PDT October 6, 2009
UPDATED: 7:33 pm PDT October 6, 2009

Two men accused of meeting a North County woman through MySpace and then raping her were sentenced Tuesday.

The 20-year-old woman met her attackers through the popular social networking Web site, and they all agreed to party together.

Instead, she said she was kidnapped, raped and abandoned to walk for help half-naked.

Vincent Barnett and Brian Shippee pleaded guilty to attacking the woman 18 months ago. As part of a plea agreement, the pair was sentenced to time-served – one year – and felony probation for three years. Shippee must also register as a sex offender.

The prosecutor said the woman's family wanted to avoid a trial to protect her.

"It was her family's wishes that this case be resolved without her having to put her on the witness stand," said

Despite her family's desire to protect her, the victim spoke in court Tuesday, fighting through tears to address her attackers.

"Brian, you have no respect for women and it is clear you have no conscience by your actions," said the victim.

Barnett could be seen shaking his head and rolling his eyes. The woman asked that all women avoid these men for the rest of their lives.

"I hope by sending this message I can prevent another young woman from going through the pain and humiliation that I have endured by these men over the last 18 months," the victim said. "I hate both of you so much, and I am not ready to forgive either of you but I will move on with my life."

Afterwards, the woman told 10News that talking in court Tuesday was difficult and said the punishment does not fit the crime.

"They should have gotten more," she said.

Both men have been released from custody, with Barnett receiving permission to return to Arizona to go to school.

A third defendant, Robert Melgoza, also pleaded guilty and will receive a similar sentence on Wednesday.
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