Lestina Marie Smith.jpg

Lestina Marie Smith

(Courtesy | Saginaw County Sheriff's Department)

SAGINAW, MI -- The mother of a female teenager charged with raping a 19-year-old man at knifepoint in Saginaw Township said she can't believe the charges her daughter is facing.

Tanesha Jackson, 44, is the mother of Lestina Marie Smith, 17, accused of holding the 19-year-old Saginaw man at knifepoint and engaging in oral and vaginal sex with him. She said that her daughter and the alleged victim knew each other.

"I'm not going to believe that my daughter raped him," Jackson said. "I'm not going to believe it."

Jackson said that she wasn't going to speak out until she read an article on MLive about male rape.

"I'm not saying that a man can't be raped," Jackson said. "I need people to give her a chance. Don't judge her."

Jackson said she has not talked to her daughter yet, though she has been in contact with her daughter's lawyer and learned that she may be getting a mental evaluation.

Smith was arraigned on Jan. 17, on two felony counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Each charge carries a maximum punishment of life in prison. The charges stem from an incident on Jan. 11.

"It was like he was part of the family and I just don't understand how this turned out to be rape," Jackson said. "Lestina is not a violent person like that."

Smith was denied bond and is being held in the Saginaw County Jail.

Her next appearance in court is a preliminary examination on Feb. 3 to determine probable cause.