Husband is in prison for sexually assaulting wife... now she has to pay HIM $1,000 a month in alimony after divorce



Lawyers today condemned the a judge's ruling to forces her to pay alimony to her ex-husband who was convicted of sexually assaulting her.



Crystal Harris also voiced her outrage in the case.



Ms Harris had been ordered by a court to pay her ex-husband $1,000 a month in alimony when he gets out of prison for sexually assaulting her.

Divorce: Crystal Harris' marriage to her husband Shawn ended bitterly when he was convicted of sexually assaulting her

The financial advisor was stunned when a judge in California ruled that she has to hand over the monthly sum to support her ex.

She was also told she must pay his legal expenses of more than $47,000 that he ran up in seeking the financial support.

It is believed to be the first time in the US where a sex victim has been forced to pay her convicted attacker.

Harris said: 'As soon as she gets out of prison for raping me, I have to start writing him cheques. What a thing to choke on.

Right call? Judge Gregory Pollack used his judicial discretion to order the alimony payments

'I keep thinking when am I going to wake up from this nightmare.'

Her husband Shawn,40, was jailed for six years after raping his wife at the home they shared in San Diego, California.

Their two children were forced to listen to Crystal's cries for help during the 2008 attack.

Mr Harris had claimed the sex was consensual but Crystal,39, had secretly recorded the assault during which she was heard to say 'No' more than 50 times.

A jury convicted Mr Harris earlier this year of a forced sex act. He is due to be released in 2014.

Crystal,a financial adviser, said Judge Gregory Pollack made the ruling after looking at her finances from their 12 year marriage.

He said Crystal made over $11,000 a month from her job while her husband made $400.



Under Californian law a person does not have to pay alimony where a murder attempt is involved.

But Judge Pollock said the law does not apply to other crimes and used his judicial discretion to rule against Crystal.

Crystal said she does not have to pay the alimony while her husband is in prison but will have to make the monthly payments upon his release.