A Clark County woman claiming to have been raped at knifepoint while her son was present is headed to mediation with her accused rapists. 

The victim, Latoya Rawlings, accused Darvin Johnson of Akron of raping her in September 2016.  He was charged with first degree rape, first degree unlawful imprisonment, second degree robbery, and terroristic threatening, and as being a first degree persistent felony offender.

Felony mediation is not as common as other types of mediation, but it is gaining speed as a tool to settle claims.  Like all mediations, a third party mediator – in many cases a retired judge – meets with everyone involved in the case to discuss the issue and attempt to reach a settlement outside of court.  Nobody is legally bound to accept the resolution, but the mediator does explain to everyone the benefits of maintaining control of their situation and avoiding a trial.

According to Rawlings, she was involved in a romantic relationship with Johnson.  She stated she went to his home on September 21 and he asked for $100 to help him return to Ohio.  She claimed he was angry and when she refused his request for the money, he grabbed a knife from her kitchen and made her and her son sit on the couch.  He later grabbed her son and threatened to break his neck.

Rawlings claims Johnson forced her at knifepoint to drive to the bank to withdraw the money and then took her back home and raped her while her son was in another room.

Johnson denies the allegations and states that despite making some moral mistakes, he did not break any laws.