SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) – It was a terrifying ordeal for a San Marcos smoke shop clerk who was raped inside her store this past weekend. Days later,
, and she's speaking exclusively to CBS News 8.
It's normally CBS News 8's policy not to identify rape survivors, but in this case, Milan Leone, 20, is choosing to come forward to share her heroic story.
"I just don't feel like I need to hide behind anything, because just for people that are watching this, I want to be as bare and natural as possible so people can see. Even after something like this has happened to you, you can still be strong enough. Every person has it in them to be strong enough… they don't need to hide behind anything. This isn't anything to be ashamed of.
"I want people like him who should've gotten his third strike years and years ago, who should've been in jail the rest of his life, to stay there. That's part of why I'm okay with putting my name and face out on everything, because I want people to know.
[
STORY:
]
"I got hit in the face a few times. My cheek was a lot more swollen, face red… my lip was twice the size and a huge scab on it.
"One of the times he hit me I remember feeling my mouth just fill up with blood and I felt (my tooth) hit the roof of my mouth and I pushed it forward with my tongue so I wouldn't choke on it if he hit me again. The front tooth right here, hit the roof of my mouth, got a root canal yesterday," she said.
[
STORY:
]
Following the attack, Leone tried to befriend the suspect, 27-year-old Jason Stey. She tells CBS News 8 she thinks if she didn't, she might not have lived.
"I was so angry and scared. The only thing that made me stomach being nice to him was knowing that was my only out. Because when you see rape in a list of charges, you typically see 'rape and murder.'
"I just want the blame to be put where it's supposed to be put, and that's on him. He's the only person responsible for that," Leone said. "I just want everyone to know this isn't anyone's fault but his," Leone said.
To contribute to "Milan's Recovery Fund," CLICK HERE>>.