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Betrayal: Secrets & Lies - Season 1 Episode 2 -
Abuse & Alimony
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Abuse & Alimony
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00:10it was a beautiful wedding I really was smitten with him
00:18Sean could be very funny and charming and charismatic I have the most gorgeous bride
00:23I love her love her very much
00:27it was really everything I dreamed of you're doing great you're a champ about two minutes
00:33seemed like what every woman wants can you say baby
00:38and that's the scary thing
00:47the tape is blood curdling
00:58Mr. Harris told the court this was a sex game we played
01:02it was rough sex but no time did I force her to do anything against her will
01:07this was a dangerous and violent betrayal
01:11911 emergency
01:14my marriage ended with a 911 call
01:42I'm Andrea Gunning and this is Betrayal
01:44a show about the people we trust the most
01:47and the deceptions that change everything
01:52Crystal Harris grew up knowing exactly what she wanted
01:54a career, a family, and a loving husband
01:57but when the man she married revealed his true self
02:00everything she built came crashing down
02:04Crystal thank you so much for being here with me today
02:06it's nice to be here with you
02:08how would you describe your ex-husband?
02:13he was a great person in the beginning
02:15I really thought he was amazing
02:18and by the end of our relationship
02:21I really just don't even think he was the same person
02:24did you feel like you were living with a stranger in your household?
02:28I mean I felt like I was living in a house of horrors
02:40I was born in the city of Corona
02:45but when I was 10 years old
02:48my parents divorced
02:49and my dad moved to the beach in Carlsbad
02:53and I wanted to be at the beach in Carlsbad too
02:59and then I had decided when I was about 16 years old
03:03that I wanted to be a stockbroker
03:05or a financial advisor
03:08I pictured myself as like a businesswoman
03:11she always knew exactly what she wanted to do
03:13and because she is good at everything that she does
03:15those things happen the way that she wanted them to
03:18and when she wanted them to
03:20my plan was that I wanted to graduate at 21
03:24I wanted to get a job
03:26I wanted to get married shortly after I graduated college
03:29so that would be in my mind 23
03:31and so I met Sean at the perfect time
03:36I met Sean between my third and fourth years in college
03:40we both worked at a restaurant
03:42and I just was taken with him
03:45he was athletic
03:46and had athletic build
03:48and blonde hair and blue eyes
03:50and I can see where the attraction came from
03:52he kind of had a swagger about him
03:55and he was so smart
03:58he was studying mathematics
04:00along with computer stuff
04:02and he was a really hard worker
04:04I was impressed by that
04:05and so it wasn't long before we were dating
04:10they were together all the time
04:13and I thought Sean was a really nice guy
04:16Sean could be very funny
04:18and charming and charismatic
04:20and he just made her laugh all the time
04:22he was thoughtful and loving
04:26and I felt like he was proud to be with me
04:32he had a whole different family dynamic than I had
04:37he had two parents that were together
04:39he was the oldest of four siblings
04:42and Sean was super close with his dad
04:47his dad really seemed to get a lot of pleasure
04:50out of how much Sean loved to play sports
04:53he was a soccer player
04:55he was a baseball player
04:57he was a football player
04:59and when I first met him
05:00he was really into kickboxing
05:03he really was
05:06like a man among men
05:07as far as physicality goes
05:10during our first or second year of dating
05:14we took a little trip to Vegas
05:15and just a melee started to break out
05:20and I was scared
05:21but what I noticed about Sean
05:23was that he was looking to go towards the action
05:27he liked it
05:30to Crystal
05:31it seemed like Sean was trying to protect her
05:34and it made her feel safe
05:38once I graduated
05:39I had a finance degree
05:43and we moved in together
05:45I got my job shortly after
05:49and I was in New York
05:50for some training
05:52for like three or four weeks
05:53and so one of the weekends
05:55Sean came
05:56and we went up into the very very top
05:58of the Statue of Liberty
06:01and he proposed to me there
06:03I really just thought that
06:05this is the way life is supposed to be
06:09and it's my pleasure to announce
06:11on your behalf
06:12to all those here present
06:14that you are husband and wife
06:17the wedding was great
06:20I got to sort of descend
06:22down this whole staircase
06:33and I loved my dress
06:35so much
06:37it was really
06:39everything I dreamed of
06:47we're leaving tomorrow for our honeymoon to Jamaica
06:49fun in the sun
06:51get dreadlocks
06:51get in trouble
06:55and just I want to say that
06:58this is the beginning of a lifetime
07:02bye
07:13after we got married
07:16I'm working really hard
07:18as a financial advisor
07:19and he's working real hard for his dad
07:22trying to keep his dad's used car dealership afloat
07:26was really a lot of growing together
07:31everything in Crystal's life
07:32was playing out exactly
07:33as she had planned it back in high school
07:37but in a lot of young marriages
07:39there are moments of stress
07:40and in one of those moments
07:42Sean revealed a side of himself
07:43Crystal had never seen before
07:49in 1998
07:50we were two years into the marriage
07:51and we had sold a car
07:55so I would go to the office
07:57and then Sean would need to get to work
07:59and so I had planned to leave
08:01so that I could drop him off
08:02and then go back
08:03and he kept being late
08:09finally it got to a day
08:11where I was really mad
08:17according to Crystal
08:18Sean's response
08:19was totally unprecedented
08:22he just
08:24threw the back of his hand
08:26into my face
08:29it floored me
08:32did he just hit me?
08:35that was it
08:36it's over
08:43once Sean hit me in the car
08:46I just started driving again
08:48and as soon as I dropped him off
08:49I made a police report
08:51I got a restraining order
08:52I called an attorney
08:54to file for divorce
08:56and I told everyone
08:59and so when he was arrested
09:01I was not there
09:03because I had to go back to the office
09:05and by the time I got home
09:06the sliding glass door
09:08on the balcony
09:09had been completely smashed
09:10of course he did that
09:12like that's his response
09:14to what I did
09:16so when Crystal told me
09:17that Sean hit her
09:19I was surprised
09:20I just thought
09:21she deserved so much better
09:25maybe a month or so went by
09:27and I got a call
09:28from Sean's dad
09:31and he was telling me
09:33how sorry Sean has been
09:36and he's taking anger management classes
09:40and so we did start talking on the phone
09:44and Sean seemed like he was devastated
09:49but there was no one
09:51besides Sean's family
09:52that wanted me to go back with him
09:55the more we talked to her
09:57about leaving
09:58she would just kind of clam up
09:59because she didn't want to talk about it
10:01she wasn't always great
10:02about taking advice
10:03at the time
10:04you know I'm 25 years old
10:06I thought I knew everything
10:07and I thought that it was
10:10something that I could handle
10:11and I thought I knew better than them
10:14so above everyone's objections
10:16I went back to him
10:22my name is Verna Griffin-Tabor
10:24but I prefer to go by V
10:26for 25 years
10:27I ran a non-profit rape crisis
10:29domestic violence agency
10:31and so I've seen people like Crystal
10:35when Sean began to apologize
10:37she believed it was honest
10:39and that they could move forward
10:41they seemingly are able to get past
10:44the violent outburst
10:47and things are really great
10:49for four years
10:51and in 2002
10:52Crystal gets pregnant
10:54with her first child
10:55well your dad and I
10:57are just waiting for you to arrive
10:59we just want you to know
11:00that we love each other
11:04and that's going to be
11:05what we want to have for you
11:07is to have a good strong marriage
11:10and to show you
11:12what a healthy relationship is
11:15and I have my own baby
11:17your brother
11:17your sister
11:19baby Shushu
11:20that I'm getting rid of
11:22when I planned my life early on
11:24I was like at 30
11:25I shall have a child
11:26I'm doing great
11:27you're going to chant
11:28it turns out
11:29I had my first son
11:31five days before my 30th birthday
11:34time for your hair
11:37Crystal was very very successful
11:40at what she did
11:41and was able to support her family
11:44and allow Sean to become a stay at home dad
11:47we're not putting you in daycare
11:49the plan is I'm going to go from a car salesman
11:52which I've been for 10 years
11:53and I'm going to be Mr. Mom
11:56calcium bottle
11:57baby
12:04I'm not trying to stereotype
12:06but it seemed to me
12:08like Sean would have been more
12:09the man's man
12:10and he would have wanted
12:12the wife or the mom
12:14to stay home with the kids
12:19but it seemed as though Sean was fine
12:22with being the stay at home dad
12:24I love dropping babies
12:28he was thrilled to have a baby
12:31and so it just came time
12:34to do it all again
12:40we just thought
12:41this is what life is all about
12:43oh good job
12:45what a nice thing
12:46can you say baby
12:49baby
12:49good boy
12:52by all accounts
12:54Sean loved being a stay at home dad
12:56he really adored his children
13:02I think it worked up into the point
13:05where Sean's dad
13:07passed away from lung cancer
13:08and it was quick
13:11between the diagnosis
13:12and the death
13:13and it seemed to throw my husband
13:17for a loop
13:17I had a few things
13:19I wanted to tell you about
13:20my son
13:21because I'm not
13:22just the best man
13:23I'm also the groom's dad
13:27Sean cared very much
13:29what his dad thought of him
13:30to the bride and groom
13:35and it seemed like
13:37once his dad
13:37was not on this earth anymore
13:40Sean's whole demeanor
13:42seemed to deteriorate
13:44wait move
13:44just for a minute honey
13:46okay Kobe
13:50to Crystal
13:51it was like
13:51he had nobody left to impress
13:55this wasn't the man
13:56that Crystal fell in love with
13:57no no no
13:58no hit
13:59no
14:00no hit
14:04and he was getting
14:05more and more aggressive
14:06towards Crystal
14:07she says
14:08he wasn't hitting her
14:09but he was
14:10intimidating her physically
14:13he definitely learned
14:15from the anger management
14:16incident the first time
14:18not to just hit me
14:19in the face
14:19and give me a black eye
14:22he would
14:23act like
14:24he's gonna
14:25throw something at me
14:28or break my stuff
14:30or push me up
14:31against a wall
14:33but not something
14:34I could like
14:35have the police show up
14:36and say look what he did
14:37to me
14:39but I did call the police
14:41and it would deescalate
14:42a situation
14:44Sean would agree
14:45to chill out
14:48she's very good
14:49about putting on
14:50this facade of
14:51happy life
14:51happy marriage
14:53I didn't know
14:54it was that bad
14:57the guilt and shame
14:58that people feel
14:59often times silences them
15:02from reaching out
15:02for help
15:03or sharing
15:03what they're really
15:04going through
15:05because it's really
15:06coming to terms
15:07with it themselves
15:10I wasn't happy
15:11with this
15:12but I thought
15:13I don't want to
15:14break up my home
15:14for my kids
15:16I saw him getting
15:17more and more physical
15:18with my older son
15:20like let's say
15:21we're sitting somewhere
15:22like out in public
15:23and he doesn't want
15:24my son to be making
15:25so much noise
15:26or something
15:26and he would
15:27do this thing
15:28where he would pinch
15:29on both sides
15:29of his thigh
15:30so hard
15:32it was a level
15:33of physical
15:34control
15:35that was unnecessary
15:37but every incident
15:39would obviously
15:40make it the norm
15:42in our house
15:42and I didn't realize
15:44that I was just
15:44getting deeper
15:45and deeper in
15:50the first inkling
15:51I had that there
15:52was something
15:53off
15:53was one night
15:55when I was there
15:57Sean's like
15:58I'm going to go
15:58get Del Taco
16:01so he leaves
16:03and when it's
16:05like noticeable
16:06that he should
16:07have been back
16:07by now
16:08she was annoyed
16:10obviously
16:11but I thought
16:11like she doesn't
16:12seem as upset
16:13as I would be
16:15so it must not
16:16be the first time
16:17this has happened
16:22Sean would often
16:23leave for hours
16:25it was just a way
16:26to keep me
16:28on my toes
16:29but that was the
16:30first time
16:31he did it
16:32in front of someone
16:33else
16:35I definitely think
16:36that because
16:37Crystal was a
16:37breadwinner
16:38and that he
16:38was a stay
16:39at home dad
16:39that he definitely
16:41was looking for
16:42a way to
16:43assert himself
16:44and that was
16:45how he did it
16:46so after that
16:47I was not very
16:48nice to Sean
16:49but Crystal
16:50said please
16:51be nice to him
16:52because Sean
16:53won't let you
16:53see the boys
16:54if you don't
16:55and so I
16:56sucked it up
16:57and just started
16:57being civil
17:00so August
17:01of 2007
17:02Sean and I
17:03got in a big
17:03fight
17:08I called
17:09the police
17:09but this time
17:11when Sean
17:11left
17:12he left
17:13for days
17:18and after
17:19a few days
17:20went by
17:20he walked
17:22into the house
17:23and I said
17:25oh my god
17:25you're back
17:26like are we
17:26going to talk
17:27about this
17:28when Sean
17:29walked into
17:30the room
17:30he wasn't
17:31mad
17:31he was actually
17:32quite calm
17:33which makes
17:34what he said
17:34to Crystal
17:35that much
17:36more chilling
17:37he said
17:38you're not
17:39going to leave
17:40and if you
17:40do
17:41I will kill
17:41you
17:47after the
17:48death threat
17:49started
17:50I obviously
17:51realized
17:51I can't
17:53stay here
17:54but now
17:54I can't
17:55figure out
17:55how to
17:55leave
17:57because
17:58in my mind
17:59if I make
17:59the move
18:00to get
18:00out
18:00that's
18:01my death
18:05I'm
18:05Summer
18:06Steffen
18:06I'm San Diego
18:07County's
18:07district attorney
18:08and I've
18:09spent a
18:10career
18:10focusing
18:11on special
18:11victims
18:12and in
18:13Crystal's
18:14case
18:14it's a
18:15catch-22
18:15because
18:16she's trying
18:17to get
18:17out of
18:17the
18:17relationship
18:18but
18:19understanding
18:19that
18:20that would
18:21bring
18:21a feeling
18:22of loss
18:22of control
18:23on his
18:23part
18:24that could
18:24make the
18:25violence
18:26go up
18:26so
18:28I knew
18:29he liked
18:30to corner
18:31me in my
18:32bathroom closet
18:33and that
18:34is where
18:35I set up
18:36a tape recorder
18:38I just
18:39thought
18:39maybe I'll
18:40have a chance
18:41to get
18:41these death
18:42threats
18:42on tape
18:44I had
18:45never felt
18:46like I
18:46wasn't the
18:46one in
18:47control
18:47of my
18:47life
18:48before
18:48this
18:48point
18:51and I
18:51started
18:52going to
18:52church
18:53and it
18:54helped
18:54me a lot
18:56and we
18:57were having
18:57an Easter
18:58fair
18:59at my
18:59church
19:00and I
19:00knew the
19:01kids would
19:01love it
19:02and so
19:02I begged
19:03Sean to
19:03come to
19:03this thing
19:04but he
19:05was just
19:05mean to
19:06me all
19:07day
19:08and we're
19:09leaving this
19:10event
19:11and we're
19:12stuck in
19:13traffic or
19:13whatever
19:13and he
19:14started like
19:14making gestures
19:15to cars
19:16and I said
19:16Sean these
19:17are people
19:17I go to
19:18church with
19:18and that's
19:19when I feel
19:20the whack
19:21across my
19:21face
19:25when he
19:25hit me
19:25I had a
19:26snow cone
19:26in my
19:27hand
19:27and it
19:28just
19:28splattered
19:29the snow cone
19:30up against
19:30the window
19:31and kids
19:32saw
19:33that's when
19:34he goes
19:34you've been
19:35pushing my
19:35buttons all
19:36day and
19:36now I'm
19:36going to
19:37push yours
19:37and he
19:37put his
19:38finger
19:38into this
19:39part of
19:39my neck
19:40and he
19:41like
19:41choked
19:41me
19:44when
19:45children
19:45witness a
19:46father
19:46committing
19:47domestic
19:47violence
19:49statistically
19:49they are
19:50800%
19:51more likely
19:52to be
19:53violent
19:53themselves
19:54there was
19:55no thought
19:56how the
19:56children
19:57were
19:57affected
19:58that
19:59very
19:59same
20:00night
20:00I
20:01went
20:01and
20:01bought
20:01a
20:01gun
20:03Crystal
20:04was
20:04preparing
20:05for the
20:05moment
20:05that she
20:06would
20:06leave
20:06Sean
20:06and she
20:07decided
20:07that
20:08she
20:08needed
20:08a
20:08gun
20:09not
20:09to
20:09use
20:10it
20:10against
20:10Sean
20:11but
20:11to
20:11protect
20:12herself
20:12I
20:13thought
20:13this
20:13was
20:13my
20:14way
20:14out
20:15but
20:15in
20:16California
20:17there's
20:18a 10
20:18day
20:18waiting
20:19period
20:19so
20:20I've
20:20got to
20:21keep
20:21it
20:21cool
20:21until
20:22I
20:22can
20:22pick
20:22up
20:22my
20:23gun
20:24a
20:27few
20:27days
20:28went
20:28by
20:29and
20:30he
20:30just
20:30says
20:31he
20:31wants
20:31to
20:31have
20:31sex
20:31with
20:32me
20:33we're
20:33not
20:33even
20:34talking
20:34like
20:34no
20:35I'm
20:36not
20:36having
20:36sex
20:36with
20:36you
20:37with
20:37you
20:37and
20:38then
20:39he
20:39made
20:39up
20:40some
20:40story
20:40about
20:41me
20:41lying
20:41to
20:41him
20:44he
20:44told
20:45her
20:45I'm
20:45going to
20:46punish
20:46you
20:46and
20:47you're
20:47going to
20:47be
20:47punished
20:48by being
20:48sexually
20:49abused
20:50because
20:50he
20:51understood
20:51that
20:52is
20:52the way
20:53to
20:53dehumanize
20:54her
20:57and
20:57so
20:58I
20:59remembered
20:59that
20:59I
20:59had
21:00that
21:00tape
21:00recorder
21:01and
21:02I
21:02thought
21:02I
21:02will
21:03be
21:03damned
21:03if
21:04this
21:04happens
21:04to
21:04me
21:05and
21:05I
21:05don't
21:05have
21:05proof
21:06that
21:06it
21:06happens
21:09he
21:10allowed
21:10me
21:10to
21:10go
21:10to
21:10the
21:11bathroom
21:11and
21:12when
21:12I
21:12came
21:12out
21:12I
21:13just
21:14acted
21:14like
21:14I
21:14was
21:14getting
21:14something
21:15out
21:15of
21:15my
21:15underwear
21:15drawer
21:16and
21:16I
21:16hit
21:16record
21:19and
21:21at
21:21that
21:21point
21:22he
21:22is
21:23wanting
21:23me
21:23to
21:23give
21:23him
21:23oral
21:24sex
21:25I
21:26have
21:26to
21:26warn
21:26you
21:27what
21:27you're
21:27about
21:27to
21:28hear
21:28is
21:28really
21:29tough
21:30it's
21:31horrifying
21:32but
21:32that
21:32doesn't
21:33do it
21:33justice
21:35when
21:51I'm
21:51not
21:52doing
21:52what
21:52he
21:52wants
21:53me
21:53to
21:53do
21:53he's
21:54hitting
21:54me
21:57and
22:02he's
22:02also
22:03choking
22:04me
22:04I was
22:08just
22:08crying
22:08I was
22:09saying
22:09no
22:14and
22:15then
22:15I don't
22:16want to
22:17be super
22:17graphic
22:17but
22:18I will
22:18just
22:19say
22:19that
22:19he
22:19he
22:20kept
22:20threatening
22:20me
22:21with
22:21anal
22:21sex
22:30and I
22:31said
22:32come
22:32just
22:32normal
22:32like
22:33normal
22:33sex
22:38and so
22:39he did
22:39vaginally
22:40rape me
22:41that day
22:44sex
22:45between a married
22:46couple
22:46is supposed
22:47to be loving
22:47and in this
22:48case
22:48he used
22:49it as a
22:49weapon
22:50spousal rape
22:51was the
22:52final act
22:53of betrayal
22:54during the entire
22:56assault
22:56Sean and Crystal's
22:57two sons
22:58are upstairs
22:58playing
22:59there was no
23:00regard
23:01for what those
23:02boys might be
23:02hearing
23:02it is truly
23:04sickening
23:06when he
23:07finished
23:07there's like
23:08this secondary
23:09conversation
23:09about me
23:10being a liar
23:11and I said
23:12I was confused
23:12and he said
23:13you're not
23:13confused
23:14I'll write
23:15that on your
23:15forehead
23:16when I dump
23:16your body
23:23he even
23:23like taunts
23:24me to call
23:24the police
23:25please do
23:34I didn't call
23:35the police
23:36that day
23:36though
23:36because
23:37I was still
23:38afraid
23:38this was a
23:40Friday
23:40I'm supposed
23:41to pick up
23:42my gun
23:42the following
23:43Wednesday
23:44and I just
23:45remember telling
23:45myself
23:45I've got
23:46to hold
23:47out for
23:47that
23:50because
23:51I know
23:52that
23:53as Wednesday
23:54approaches
23:56I'm going
23:57to be
23:57leaving
23:57like
23:59escaping
23:59with the
24:00kids
24:02Tuesday
24:02sure enough
24:04I get home
24:04that evening
24:05and he
24:06immediately
24:06has it
24:07out for
24:07me
24:09where have
24:10you been
24:10all day
24:10where'd
24:11you go
24:11I said
24:12I was
24:13at work
24:13I got
24:14lunch
24:15at one
24:15point
24:15but that's
24:16it
24:18he just
24:19puts his
24:20hands
24:20straight
24:20around
24:20my neck
24:21again
24:21and this
24:22time
24:23he is
24:24squeezing
24:25so hard
24:28he's
24:29about
24:29to kill
24:29me
24:33he finally
24:34did let
24:34go
24:36and says
24:37you are
24:37going to
24:38get
24:38and
24:41the kids
24:42were just
24:43upstairs
24:43and awake
24:44the whole
24:44time
24:47and I
24:48just
24:48remember
24:48thinking
24:49I have
24:49to get
24:49through
24:49this
24:56after the
24:57second
24:57attack
24:58I just
24:59got in
24:59the shower
24:59and I
25:00just
25:00started
25:00crying
25:01the deepest
25:02cry I
25:02ever cried
25:03in my
25:03life
25:05because
25:05the
25:06increase
25:07in the
25:07level
25:08of
25:08violence
25:09was so
25:10alarming
25:11but the
25:12worst thing
25:12was like
25:13the look
25:13in his
25:13eyes
25:15and
25:16realizing
25:17how much
25:18he was
25:19loving it
25:23she really
25:24knew
25:24she was
25:25in harm's
25:26way
25:26at that
25:26point
25:31even though
25:31I still
25:32didn't have
25:32my gun
25:33I just
25:34grabbed
25:34my cell
25:35phone
25:35and ran
25:36out the
25:36front door
25:409-1-1
25:40emergency
25:45is he
25:49still
25:50there
25:50yes
25:51he doesn't
25:51know
25:52I'm
25:52wrong
25:52all right
25:53and are
25:53there any
25:53children
25:54in the
25:54house
25:55yes
25:56there's
25:56two boys
25:56and they
25:57are asleep
25:57now
25:58okay
25:58you should
25:59see an
26:00officer
26:00he's
26:00going to
26:00be walking
26:01towards
26:01you
26:01okay
26:02thank
26:02you
26:04when the
26:05police
26:05went to
26:05apprehend
26:06him
26:06he was
26:06playing
26:06video games
26:07at no
26:08point
26:08was
26:08Sean
26:09thinking
26:09that
26:09he
26:10could
26:10get
26:10in
26:11trouble
26:11for
26:11this
26:11behavior
26:12it was
26:13like
26:13he was
26:13so
26:13detached
26:14from
26:14reality
26:22I
26:22remember
26:23just
26:23feeling
26:24so
26:24bad
26:24for
26:25Crystal
26:25and
26:26so
26:26bad
26:26for
26:26the
26:26kids
26:27and
26:27I
26:28couldn't
26:29imagine
26:29I
26:29couldn't
26:30imagine
26:41my
26:42name is
26:42Judy
26:42Tashner
26:43and I'm
26:44a deputy
26:44district attorney
26:45with the
26:46San Diego
26:46County
26:46district attorney's
26:47office
26:49Sean
26:50Harris
26:50was charged
26:52with
26:52spousal rape
26:53sodomy
26:55and forcible
26:56oral copulation
26:58and unfortunately
27:00we rarely
27:01are able to
27:03prosecute
27:03spousal rape
27:05cases
27:05because of the
27:06private nature
27:07of the crime
27:08but to have that
27:11audio recording
27:12I've never had that
27:13type of evidence
27:14before
27:16I
27:17wasn't
27:17emotionally
27:18ready
27:18for how
27:19much
27:19I
27:20was
27:21on
27:21trial
27:23in
27:24domestic
27:24violence
27:24cases
27:25the first
27:26traumatic
27:27event
27:27is the
27:28actual
27:28event
27:28itself
27:29and
27:30unfortunately
27:30the
27:31second
27:32traumatic
27:32event
27:33is having
27:34to relive
27:35it
27:35in
27:35court
27:35it was
27:47simply
27:47a horrific
27:49tape
27:49screaming
27:50yelling
27:51pleading
27:52with Mr.
27:53Harris
27:53not to do
27:54this
27:58and the jury
27:59got to hear
27:59that
28:02but
28:03the defense
28:04tried to
28:05turn that
28:05into
28:06that
28:06it
28:06was
28:06a
28:06set
28:07up
28:09our
28:09position
28:10was
28:11that
28:11she
28:12had
28:12the
28:12tape
28:13because
28:13when
28:13the
28:13abusers
28:14already
28:14told
28:14them
28:15no
28:15one's
28:15going
28:15to
28:15believe
28:16you
28:16and
28:16I'm
28:17going
28:17to
28:17end
28:17your
28:18life
28:18if
28:18you
28:18leave
28:19me
28:19that's
28:20not
28:20entrapment
28:21that's
28:21survival
28:23Sean
28:24Harris
28:24took the
28:25stand
28:25and
28:26testified
28:27that
28:27this
28:27was
28:28role
28:28play
28:30it
28:30was
28:30rough
28:31sex
28:31but
28:31no
28:32time
28:32did I
28:32force
28:33her
28:33to do
28:33anything
28:33against
28:34her
28:34will
28:35Mr.
28:35Harris
28:36told
28:36the
28:36court
28:37this
28:37was
28:37a
28:38sex
28:38game
28:38we
28:38played
28:39this
28:39was
28:40part
28:40of
28:40our
28:40normal
28:41sexual
28:41activity
28:42just
28:43another
28:43opportunity
28:44to yell
28:44and scream
28:45and get
28:45our
28:45adrenaline
28:45pumping
28:46during
28:47sex
28:47who
28:48yells
28:48and screams
28:49both of
28:50us
28:52it was
28:53so
28:53insulting
28:53to me
28:54that was
28:55the
28:55one
28:55and only
28:56defense
28:57he had
28:57though
29:00fortunately
29:01the jury
29:01did not
29:02buy
29:02it
29:04Sean
29:04was
29:05ultimately
29:05found
29:05guilty
29:06of
29:06one
29:06charge
29:07forcible
29:07oral
29:07copulation
29:10the other
29:11two
29:11charges
29:12the jury
29:13was
29:13deadlocked
29:13so
29:14those
29:14charges
29:14were
29:14dismissed
29:17so
29:17in this
29:18case
29:18Sean
29:19Harris
29:19was
29:19sentenced
29:20to
29:20six
29:20years
29:21in
29:21state
29:21prison
29:22but
29:23the
29:23case
29:23had
29:24been
29:24pending
29:24for
29:25several
29:25years
29:25and
29:26so
29:26once
29:26you're
29:27sentenced
29:27you
29:28get
29:28credit
29:28for
29:29all
29:29that
29:29time
29:29that
29:30you've
29:31been
29:31spending
29:31in
29:32custody
29:33he had
29:34done
29:34a year
29:35and a
29:35half
29:35before
29:36the
29:36trial
29:36and
29:37then
29:37in
29:38California
29:38if you're
29:39convicted
29:40of a
29:40sex
29:40offense
29:40you have
29:41to serve
29:4185%
29:42of your
29:43sentence
29:43and so
29:44a six
29:45year
29:45sentence
29:45was
29:45really
29:46only
29:46like
29:46three
29:47and a
29:47half
29:47years
29:50all
29:50I could
29:51think
29:51of
29:51was
29:51what
29:51happens
29:52the
29:52year
29:52he
29:53gets
29:53out
29:57as
29:57if
29:57the
29:58criminal
29:58trial
29:58wasn't
29:59enough
29:59Sean
30:00and
30:00Crystal
30:01were
30:01battling
30:01it
30:02out
30:02in
30:02family
30:02court
30:04this
30:05started
30:05right
30:05after
30:06he
30:06was
30:06arrested
30:06and
30:07went
30:07on
30:07well
30:08past
30:08his
30:08criminal
30:09conviction
30:11he
30:12filed
30:12for
30:13alimony
30:13from
30:14me
30:14and
30:14the
30:15thought
30:15of
30:16it
30:16just
30:17drove
30:17me
30:18crazy
30:19but
30:20the
30:20worst
30:20part
30:21was
30:21that
30:21the
30:21judge
30:22actually
30:22ordered
30:23me
30:23to
30:23pay
30:25I'm
30:26Michaela
30:26Curran
30:27and I
30:27was
30:27the
30:28attorney
30:28for
30:28Crystal
30:28Harris
30:29in
30:29the
30:29family
30:29law
30:30trial
30:31everyone
30:31in
30:32California
30:32is
30:32entitled
30:33to
30:33spousal
30:33support
30:34if
30:34one
30:35party
30:35out
30:35earns
30:35the
30:36other
30:37and
30:38so
30:38it
30:38would
30:38be
30:38$3,000
30:39a
30:40month
30:40and
30:41the
30:42judge
30:42reduced
30:42it
30:43down
30:43to
30:43$1,000
30:44a
30:44month
30:45and
30:45we
30:45called
30:45that
30:46the
30:46rape
30:46discount
30:49it
30:50would
30:50be
30:50sexist
30:51of
30:51me
30:51not
30:52to
30:52order
30:52him
30:53to
30:53receive
30:54alimony
30:54he said
30:55and so
30:56therefore
30:56you're
30:57going to
30:57pay
30:58and his
30:59attorney's
30:59fees as
31:00well
31:01I was
31:02outraged
31:03she agreed
31:04to pay
31:04$47,000
31:05in attorney's
31:06fees
31:07to opposing
31:08counsel
31:10in
31:10california
31:11you don't
31:12get
31:12spousal
31:13support
31:13while
31:13you're
31:13incarcerated
31:14and so
31:15I didn't
31:16have to
31:16pay
31:16for that
31:17until
31:17he got
31:18out
31:18of
31:18prison
31:19but
31:19the
31:20judge
31:20made
31:20it
31:21very
31:21clear
31:21to
31:22Sean
31:22he said
31:22the
31:23minute
31:23you
31:23get
31:23out
31:23of
31:23jail
31:24you
31:25can
31:25ask
31:25for
31:25that
31:25spousal
31:26support
31:26again
31:28Crystal
31:29was
31:29crushed
31:29because
31:30it's
31:31essentially
31:31like
31:32she's
31:32being
31:32punished
31:34and so
31:35I told
31:36the judge
31:37if you
31:37make me
31:38pay him
31:39alimony
31:39I
31:41will get
31:41the law
31:42changed
31:42and he
31:43said
31:44you'll
31:44change
31:45the law
31:45you'll
31:45get the
31:46law
31:46changed
31:46and I
31:47said
31:47I
31:47will
31:53shortly
31:54after the
31:54hearing
31:54where I
31:55was
31:55ordered
31:55to
31:55pay
31:56Sean
31:56alimony
31:58I
31:59felt
31:59like
31:59I've
31:59got
32:00to
32:00do
32:01something
32:02an
32:03appeal
32:03in
32:04California
32:04can
32:05take
32:05a year
32:05year
32:06and a
32:06half
32:06to
32:06get
32:06done
32:07and
32:07so
32:08she
32:08contacted
32:09the
32:09San Diego
32:10district
32:10attorney
32:11and
32:12they
32:12got
32:12interested
32:13in
32:13it
32:15so
32:16when
32:16we
32:16studied
32:16the
32:17family
32:17code
32:17it
32:17turned
32:18out
32:18there
32:18was
32:19an
32:19exception
32:20to
32:21paying
32:21alimony
32:22but
32:22it
32:22was
32:22only
32:23if
32:23you
32:23were
32:24convicted
32:24of
32:24murder
32:25or
32:25attempted
32:26murder
32:30there
32:31were no
32:32protections
32:32for other
32:33types of
32:33victims
32:34and
32:35Crystal tried
32:36to expand
32:36that law
32:39I said
32:40listen
32:40all we have to do
32:41is just say
32:42if your spouse is convicted
32:44of a violent sexual felony
32:46then the judge
32:47cannot order
32:48any financial rewards
32:51for the spouse
32:53so
32:53they
32:54wrote up
32:55the bill
32:56and then
32:56we got a local
32:58assemblywoman
32:59named
32:59Toni Atkins
33:00to
33:01bring the bill
33:02forward
33:03but
33:04I just thought
33:05if I just keep
33:06talking about this
33:07then the politicians
33:08would have a little more
33:09pressure
33:10to vote for it
33:13once
33:13she told her story
33:15the story exploded
33:16tonight
33:17a case that has created
33:18outrage and controversy
33:20in California
33:21a California woman
33:22is ordered to pay
33:23spousal support
33:24to her ex-husband
33:25but get this
33:26he's behind bars
33:27for raping her
33:29anyone who heard this
33:30at the time
33:31was just
33:31like what
33:32that's not
33:33the law already
33:34it is
33:35heinous
33:36and morally
33:37reprehensible
33:38that you would
33:39ever make
33:40a rape victim
33:41pay
33:41her rapist
33:43Crystal
33:43put a face
33:44on it
33:45and it made it
33:46very clear
33:47that anyone
33:48can be a victim
33:49but anyone
33:51can fight back
33:54I went up
33:55to the capital
33:55in Sacramento
33:56and I testified
33:57in favor of its passage
33:59it's morally wrong
34:00and outrageous
34:01for a criminal
34:03to profit
34:04from his victim
34:05it should not matter
34:06that the criminal
34:07and victim
34:08happen to be
34:09husband and wife
34:10it passed unanimously
34:15Crystal
34:15last time we spoke
34:16we said
34:17I can't believe
34:18you need a law
34:19for this
34:19but now there's
34:20a law on the table
34:21how are you feeling
34:22tonight
34:24I feel great
34:25about it Vinny
34:25I appreciate you
34:26having me on
34:27to be able to talk
34:27about it
34:28and it's happening
34:30it's finally happening
34:33after that
34:34it had to go
34:35to the governor
34:36and he signed
34:37it in September
34:38of 2012
34:42I got the law
34:43passed
34:43and it was
34:45just a very short
34:46window of about
34:47a year and a half
34:48until he got out
34:49of prison
34:52once he got out
34:53Sean was living
34:54with his mom
34:55and working
34:56as a taxi driver
34:57and Crystal
34:58was working
34:58to make it
34:59as a single mom
35:00but Sean
35:01wasn't content
35:02to move on
35:04it just felt
35:05like a very short
35:06respite
35:07before everything
35:08started up again
35:09with him
35:10like I was ordered
35:11to immediately
35:12reunify my kids
35:13without him
35:14doing anything else
35:18and luckily
35:19I got with a group
35:21who pro bono
35:22took my case
35:23up on appeal
35:24and we won
35:28there were so many
35:29things I had to do
35:30to like fight tooth
35:32and nail
35:33to make sure
35:34the kids were safe
35:35from their dad
35:38he was on
35:39very high
35:41supervision parole
35:42he wasn't even allowed
35:43to come into San Diego
35:44County
35:44but he got off parole
35:47in 2019
35:49and I found
35:50that I did not feel
35:51safe even with my gun
35:54because he used
35:55to say weird things
35:56like the best
35:57kind of revenge
35:58is the kind
35:59when someone's
35:59like comfortable
36:00in their life
36:01and then you go
36:02back and get them
36:03and he just
36:05scared me
36:06she was terrified
36:07she got German
36:09shepherds
36:10that were trained
36:10attack dogs
36:11and we always
36:12had an exit plan
36:14if he ever
36:15did come back
36:18come 2021
36:20he had been out
36:20since 2014
36:21and I get a call
36:23from a deputy
36:24district attorney
36:24up in Los Angeles
36:25County
36:26telling me
36:27Sean Harris
36:28has been arrested
36:32again
36:33I wasn't surprised
36:34at all
36:37ten and a half
36:38years after
36:39Sean's conviction
36:39Sean is with
36:40a new woman
36:40and that woman
36:42calls the police
36:43to report that
36:44Sean has sexually
36:45assaulted her
36:46but that's not all
36:48she alleges
36:49that there's abuse
36:49against her underage
36:50daughter
36:51in this case
36:52the tiger
36:52did not change
36:53its stripes
36:57leading up
36:58to Sean's trial
36:59the DA
37:00asked Crystal
37:00if she'd be
37:01willing to testify
37:01against Sean
37:02and she agreed
37:05but Sean decides
37:07that he's going
37:07to be representing
37:08himself in court
37:09Sean would be
37:10the one questioning
37:11her
37:11bringing them
37:12face to face
37:19in 2024
37:20Sean stood trial
37:22on five felony
37:23counts for sexual
37:23offenses against
37:25the woman he was
37:25dating and her
37:26underage daughter
37:27but what no one
37:28saw coming
37:29was that Sean
37:30was going to
37:30represent himself
37:34I can see how
37:36it would be
37:36very hard
37:37to have your
37:39perpetrator
37:40be able to
37:41question you
37:42directly
37:42but when I had
37:44to go testify
37:46it had been
37:4816 years
37:49since the crime
37:51happened
37:52I just felt
37:54no fear
37:54and I actually
37:55felt relieved
37:56that it was
37:58Sean
37:58that was going
37:59to be
37:59cross-examining me
38:01not like a seasoned
38:02defense attorney
38:05first off
38:06I realized
38:08this is a difficult
38:09point
38:12to start on
38:12getting a note
38:13I want to thank you
38:13for the best
38:14five years in my life
38:15and my apologies
38:18in advance
38:18if I bring my bad
38:20memories
38:20and apologies
38:21starts to question
38:22as soon as I was
38:25on the stand
38:25and he started
38:26to question me
38:27I just went
38:28oh okay
38:28this is going
38:29to be easy
38:32did we role play
38:34in the march
38:35we did not
38:36did you testify
38:38no
38:42almost all
38:43of his questions
38:43were like
38:44objected to
38:45and sustained
38:46because of
38:47relevance
38:48mostly
38:49you would ask
38:49just stupid things
38:57it does not
38:59surprise me
38:59at all
38:59that he
39:00thought he
39:01could be
39:01his own
39:01attorney
39:02and that
39:03that would
39:04be better
39:05than having
39:05someone defend
39:06him
39:06Mr. Harris
39:07you've already
39:08covered the
39:08subject matter
39:09please begin
39:10to wrap up
39:14because of
39:15the conviction
39:16in my case
39:17now we're
39:19talking 25
39:19years to life
39:22because he's
39:23convicted of a
39:23super strike
39:24which is a crime
39:25that is a really
39:26heinous crime
39:28repeated
39:30in the end
39:31he got a hundred
39:32years to life
39:38crystal was
39:39finally safe
39:40and finally
39:41free
39:43crystal's story
39:44it's so powerful
39:46to me
39:47she pursued
39:48something
39:49never knowing
39:50if she
39:50would get
39:51the results
39:51of that
39:52legislation
39:53but she did
39:54it anyway
39:54because she
39:55knew it was
39:55wrong
39:55crystal Harris
39:56was an
39:57example of
39:58the criminal
39:59courts
39:59can sometimes
40:00only do so
40:01much
40:01you have to
40:02keep fighting
40:03she has
40:04made a
40:04difference
40:04for other
40:06domestic violence
40:08victims
40:09men and
40:10women
40:13I always
40:15was able
40:15to keep
40:16everything in
40:16perspective
40:17in terms of
40:18I happened
40:19to fall
40:20in love
40:20and marry
40:21a criminal
40:24and
40:25the happiness
40:27and serenity
40:28and peace
40:29that I have
40:30in my life
40:30since
40:31his arrest
40:32which also
40:33coincides
40:34with the fact
40:34that I met
40:35my new
40:35husband
40:37is
40:39immeasurable
40:41they say
40:42the best
40:42revenge
40:42is living
40:43well
40:43and she's
40:44as happy
40:44as she's
40:44ever been
40:45and she's
40:46definitely
40:46come out
40:46ahead
40:47I'd like
40:48to make a
40:48toast
40:49to my
40:49mother
40:50and to
40:50Sam
40:50for
40:52their
40:53marriage
40:53and maybe
40:54to my
40:54mother
40:54for how
40:55brave
40:55you are
40:56looking for
40:56love again
40:57is really
40:58hard
40:58like you
40:59went through
40:59a terrible time
41:01and for you
41:02to do this
41:02is incredible
41:04and you're a marvelous
41:05woman for that
41:07I am proud to say
41:09that my boys
41:10have never seen
41:11Sean since that
41:12day I called
41:13911
41:14they're 22
41:15and 20 now
41:16and my oldest
41:18son works
41:18full time
41:19and then
41:20my younger one
41:21he's learning
41:22welding
41:23and he's
41:24such a good
41:25person
41:26to my mom
41:27and to Sam
41:28and to the future
41:32all I can say
41:33is
41:34I'm living
41:35a whole
41:36new part
41:37of life
41:37and it's
41:38so beautiful
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