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Heidi Jones Seeks Plea Deal In "Fake Rape" Claim Case
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 17, 2011
Modified Mar 17, 2011
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By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 17, 2011
Modified Mar 17, 2011
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Last December, WABC 7 weather anchor Heidi Jones was arrested after allegedly lying to cops by claiming that she'd been nearly raped by a Hispanic man in Central Park. She pleaded not guilty to filing false a police report, but now it looks like she's looking for a plea deal. Her lawyer told the judge at a hearing yesterday, "We're involved in active discussions about a possible resolution in the case."
The alleged timeline of Jones' claims (as per police source whispers to the Daily News and Post) seem to be this: In late November, Jones claimed she was nearly attacked in Central Park on September 21. She also allegedly said her would-be attacker found her a few days earlier (on November 21) and threatened her—and she allegedly said that she tried to tell police about the attack in September, but cops refused to take her report.
At that point, cops spent hours investigating the claims (even questioning a Hispanic man) and also assigned her Special Victims Unit detectives to chauffeur her around the city. But detectives became suspicious, based on conversations Jones had with her sister while being driven by cops, and because Jones
was flaking out on meetings about the case.
When the police confronted her with the inconsistencies, she allegedly told them, "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." The News reports that her lawyer told the judge that if there is no plea deal, "he will seek to have several mea-culpa statements Jones allegedly made to cops barred as evidence against her at trial."
Tagged
fake rape
heidi jones
hispanic man
nypd
plea deal
special victims unit
WABC 7
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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