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WABC 7's Heidi Jones Pleads Not Guilty To Fake Rape Claim
By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 5, 2011
Modified Jan 5, 2011
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 5, 2011
Modified Jan 5, 2011
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The WABC 7 weather anchor who allegedly falsely claimed she was raped was in court today to face charges for filing a false police report. Heidi Jones, 37, pleaded not guilty; she faces up to a year behind bars if found guilty of the two misdemeanors. Her lawyer said, "We urge everyone to keep an open mind until the conclusion of the case. This entire thing has been extremely stressful for her," but the Daily News reports that court papers reveal Jones, when confronted by cops, admitted, "I did make this up."
In late November, Jones told the police that she was being stalked by a Hispanic man—and said a few days later that the man had tried to rape her in September, while she was running in Central Park (other parkgoers scared him off). According to one report, she also claimed police refused to take her initial report of the rape, which then prompted Police Commissioner Kelly to call her and apologize. Detectives from the Special Victims Unit were assigned to escort her on her errands, but then police became suspicious when they were trying to investigate the supposed attack.
According to court papers, Jones told the cops, "I did make this up. I made it up for attention. I have so much stress at work, with my personal life and with my family. I know there is no justification for it." She is currently suspended from WABC 7, which is also investigating the matter.
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Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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