Melissa Schuman is claiming that Nick Carter (pic) sexually assaulted her and forcibly took her virginity. Photo: TNS
Over five years since singer Melissa Schuman unsuccessfully pressed for criminal charges against Nick Carter, she is now suing the Backstreet Boys singer, claiming that he sexually assaulted her and forcibly took her virginity.
In 2017, Schuman accused Carter of raping her when the two were filming the TV movie The Hollow together in 2002.
Carter, then 22, allegedly invited the 18-year-old Schuman back to his Santa Monica apartment, where he gave her alcohol before forcibly performing oral sex on her and pressuring her to do the same to him.
Then, Schuman claims, despite her explaining that she was saving herself for marriage, Carter took her virginity without her consent.
At the time, Carter vehemently denied the accusations and although Schuman filed a police report detailing the incident, prosecutors declined to press charges.
Now, Schuman believes a new bill extending the statute of limitations for civil actions will give her a renewed shot at justice, TMZ reported.
Carter still denies the claims and even countersued Schuman earlier this year for US$2.3mil (RM10.1mil), arguing she had been attempting to extort him for years.
“Melissa Schuman has been peddling this tale for many years, but her allegation was false when she first made it back in 2017 – and it still is,” said Carter’s attorney, Liane Wakayama.
“A judge in Nevada recently ruled, after reviewing the extensive evidence we laid out, that there are strong grounds for Nick Carter to proceed with his lawsuit against Ms. Schuman for plotting to damage, defame and extort Nick, his associates, his friends and his family,” she added.
The countersuit was part of additional ongoing litigation involving a separate woman, Shannon Ruth, who has accused Carter of sexual assault while on a tour bus. – New York Daily News/Tribune News Service
