The rape of a 16-year old girl in Steubenville Ohio last year by two high school football stars stirred a chorus of debate across the country. There was much talk in the national media about the rape culture and blame-the-victim mentality.We here at Addicting Info have followed and reported on the case since the story broke. We revealed the video that Anonymous showed the world. We told you about the disgusting defense that was put forward on behalf of the rapists and we were happy to tell you that the 2 young men were found guilty though we were less thrilled about their sentence.

When Anonymous posted that video of the rapists and their buddies yucking it up back in January, they had given the “Rape Gang” fair warning before they did so. Anonymous hacked into the football team’s web page and posted a video issuing that warning with a demand to apologize to the victim. In that video it was Deric Lostutter behind the mask, though another hacker actually got into that web page. That hacker, known as Batcat, has publicly taken credit for doing so. But it’s Deric who is paying the price.

On April 15 (there’s some kind of irony there), the FBI raided the Kentucky man’s home. In a scene right out of a Hollywood action film, a dozen FBI SWAT members forced their way into Lostutter’s house wearing full gear and with their guns aimed at his head. They took his computer, X-Box and all storage media with a warrant for evidence of hacking into the football team’s website. Even though another hacker already took credit for that, Lostutter is the one who may face charges.

As the 26-year-old corporate cyber-security expert told Mother Jones last week, he believes that this crackdown comes at the bidding of Stuebenville officials:

“They want to make an example of me, saying, ‘You don’t fucking come after us. Don’t question us.'”

If he is convicted of hacking-related crimes, he could face 10 years in prison, fives times more (and NOT in a juvenile facility) than the pair who raped a girl last year. Deric Lostutter stood up against rape. He is now looking at a severe and unjust response for doing so while the boys who took advantage of a girl and then laughed about it get off with a slap on the wrist. What the hell is wrong with this picture? But, despite this injustice, he says that he would do it all again.

“There were so many people standing behind the cause that it felt like you had an army at your disposal and you could just stick up for what’s right.”

It will cost Deric a lot to defend himself against these charges. He is crowdsourcing to help pay for it. If you want to help, you can donate here. We have your back, Deric. We are part of that army. Hang in there.