Deric Lostutter Was Raided By The FBI For His Involvement In The Steubenville Rape Case - Here's What His Mother Thinks

Deric Lostutter, a young man with a promising future, either in his rap career or as being an adovcate for rape victims, is literally watching as his life falls apart due to the fact he was raided by FBI agents last month. The raid was due to the hack on Steubenville High School’s “Big Red” football team, RollRedRoll.com, and the site administrator’s email, both of which were hacked in December of last year. Lostsutter claims he never hacked the website, and that Batcat was responsible for this, simply by guessing that the user password was “Big Red.” Regardless, he was responsible for bringing worldwide attention, along with Alexandria Goddard, to a small town rape that seemed that everyone local wanted swept under the rug. Along with thousands of people, from all over the world, Anonymous joined together to make sure justice was served for the Jane Doe rape victim in this case. Peaceful protests were organized. Social media exploded. People from all walks of life, from those affiliated with Anonymous to grandmothers to young children all seemed to want the same thing: that attention was brought to this case and the young victim wasn’t forgotten.

Deric Lostutter wasn’t the only person involved in “#OpRollredRoll” but he was one of the first and one of the most relentless. Due to his involvement in the case, he faces between ten and twenty years in prison, where it should be noted that the young men convicted of raping the victim will serve one and two years. From Deric’s website:

Approximately Mid-April 2012 a search warrant was carried out on my address in Winchester, Kentucky for alleged communications with one “Noah Mchugh” aka @justbatcat regarding the hacking of http://www.rollredroll.com and my alleged involvement in said hacking. Upon returning from a brief turkey hunt behind my farm I had just sat down and opened up my computer to work when my pitbull, named Thor, jumps up on the door as is common for him to do when someone new is at my house. I had been expecting a T-Shirt in the mail from ShieldTactical.com and what appeared to be a Fed-Ex truck was parked in my driveway. As I open the door to great the driver approximately 12 F.B.I. Swat Team agents jumped out of the truck screaming for me to “Get The Fuck Down” with m-16 assault rifles and full riot gear armed safety off, pointed directly at my head. I was handcuffed and detained outside while they cleared my house. My brother soon emerged later with his new girlfriend, both bewildered that the F.B.I. was at my house seeing as I have no prior criminal history, both of them in handcuffs as well. The Swat team left my belongings in the floor, my dogs shocked, my family nervous, my garage door battered open with a ram though I stated I had a key, and the RV camper window broken for entry though I stated to pull hard on the door.

This sounds terrifying to me, but when I spoke with Deric on the phone this morning he shrugged it off as “no big deal” and he was more offended by the the fact officers refused to answer his questions while they were in his home. I was extremely interested in what Deric’s own mom thought about all of this, I sent her some questions and she was gracious enough to answer them for me.

We talk a lot about raising kids who stick up for people and do the right thing. How did you raise Deric to care so much about a girl he had never met before in a small Ohio town?

By teaching him to respect a female and protect her. I am a victim of domestic violence. My son saw it. I had no voice. He saw that. He loves his mom, and seeing me hurt, helped instill that need to protect in him.

How aware were you of his work in bringing justice for the Steubenville Jane Doe rape victim?

I knew that he watched the news about it and was upset by it.

Have you ever been worried about his safety as your son and what would happen if his identity was made public?

Yes, and I’m still worried. I’m more worried though, that if we all keep sitting on our hands and not get involved…what will happen then?

When were you made aware of the raid by the FBI? What was that like for you as a parent?

I was told about a week ago. I cried. I love my sons. I wasn’t there to protect him. On the other hand, I was outraged. How could they do this to someone who cared about a human being. A child.

Are you worried about your son going to jail?

I worry. I wouldn’t be his Mom if I didn’t. I also have faith. Faith in God, and faith in people. Faith that they will stand up with my son, and give those who feel they have no voice, a loud one.

I’m sure I’m not the only parent who feels this way, but she has raised a remarkable young man and she should feel extremely proud of who he has become.

Deric says he plans on recording a new album soon and regardless of what his future holds as far as any prison time he may serve, he wants to continue being an advocate against rape, rape culture and bullying. He said he would do this all again. Here’s hoping he gets the chance. You can contribute to the Deric Lostutter legal defense fund. There is a petition to have the charges dropped here.

(Image: whistler blower defense league)