Girl, 15, Says She Made Up Rape Story

(CBS/AP)  A 15-year-old California girl who claimed she had been kidnapped off the street at gunpoint and raped in the same town where another teenager was assaulted in a gang rape three months earlier told police Sunday she made up the story, authorities said.

The 15-year-old had claimed she was forced Friday night into a car with four males at gunpoint and driven around for several hours before two of them raped her.

But the girl called Richmond police around 1 p.m. Sunday and told them the story was not true, said Lt. Mark Gagan.

The girl told police Sunday that she had had consensual sex with someone, but needed an explanation for why she was late getting home Friday night, Gagan said.

The girl's accusations prompted a major police investigation in Richmond, where the gang rape of a high school girl outside a homecoming dance made national headlines in October.

Seven suspects were arrested in October and November and a healing rally and candlelight vigil for the victim was held Nov. 3, 2009 at the school where the crime was alleged to have taken place.

Dozens of patrol officers, detectives, forensic technicians and nurses had been working on the investigation since the 15-year-old flagged down a San Pablo police officer early Saturday and claimed she had been kidnapped and raped.

"We took her allegations very serious and spent a lot of time, energy and resources to investigate this," Gagan said.

On Sunday afternoon, police found evidence, including video footage, that confirmed the girl had made up her initial story, Gagan said.

Richmond police are trying to determine what happened Friday night and could pursue statutory rape charges if the person she had sex with is an adult, he said.

Investigators have not determined whether they will pursue charges against the girl for making the false report.

"We don't want to create a situation where people are hesitant to report sex crimes," Gagan said. "On the other hand, this 15-year-old girl knew she was completely fabricating her story and misleading us about what really happened."

MORE ON CRIMESIDER

November 2, 2009 - Gang-Rape Suspect Salvador Rodriguez Released
October 30, 2009 - Richmond High School Gang-Rape: Police Make Sixth Arrest
October 30, 2009 - Will Richmond High Gang Rape Gawkers Go Free?
October 29, 2009 - Richmond High School Gang-Rape: 4 Teens Charged Could Face Life in Prison
October 28, 2009 - Richmond High School Gang Rape: Three More Arrests in Homecoming Attack
October 27, 2009 - Richmond High School Gang-Rape in California: Others Watched and Did Nothing, Say Cops

[rwsmith29456]

They took her story seriously and she should be treated seriously. Besides the wasted resources somebody could have been accused or ended up in jail.

[Stevenapoli7]

She should get a jail sentence commissurate with what the guy whould have gotten.

[jankebenzone]

I hope that this girl confessed the truth because of a guilty conscience realizing that her lies could of landed an innocent into a lot of trouble. There have been and still are , many men who have/do serve long jail sentences for something they did not commit. Either by wrong identity, sloppy investigation, and or scorned women turning on the water works about false rape allegations, to save face. Investigators should not be so trigger happy to nail a rape charge on someone without solid evidence and proof that a crime was actually committed. All too often the accuser is guilty of leading on the other to the point of no return and then crying foul because of remorse. Those who choose to play with fire, can expect to get burned sooner or later. This girl admitted she gave consent, thus the other half of the equation is not guilty of any wrong doing.
Of course, the ones who do rape in a unprovoked or non consensual manner deserve the full consequences of the law.

[barbaram99]

All she needed to do was tell her folks the truth of why she was late..That girl would not want to be reped..Yet to ly to the cops about something that never happen is wrong..They could send her to children's prison for it..Would she learn from it..I really don't know..In my day they had a rule..minors had to be home before 9 PM. It was a small town in Maine..I had a dress code at home and school..
She will face the music as the saying goes..So where were the parents..Most carry cell phone and she did not need to ly..Was she scared of Mum and Dad to ly..

[jd2408]

Turn California over to Mexico. They already own it and its part of their third world country anyway.

[Union76]

I agree ,but then it's only a matter of time before they claim every southwestern state. I can't understand why any non-Latino would want to live in California anymore, just take down the American flag and go ahead and raise the Mexican flag. The Mexican-American war was fought for nothing.

[barbaram99]

I met blind and as a sp needs person from birth foster father knew this and I never wanted it..Why did this girl ly about being sexually abused when she was not..My sighted room mate asked me why I cry in my sleep..I was not aware I still do.I told him about the abuse..He is also handicapped..

[tomanyt]

Interesting that the "investigation" didn't reveal her deception. If she hadn't confessed, these boys would probably be tried and convicted.

[abyss2hope]

Actually this assumption about what would have happened isn't accurate. According to RAINN of reported rapes only about half of those result in criminal charges. About 80% of those charged are prosecuted. Of those only about 58% result in a conviction. If there is a felony conviction only about 69% will spend time in jail.

Many times when a report of rape doesn't lead to a conviction people will basely assume the original report must have be fraudulent. Also injustice in rape cases doesn't just go one way, women who made truthful police reports have been wrongfully charged.

[barbaram99]

I never wore clothes that showed skin..I was covered properly..Yet I never asked for the sexual abuse..It was my foster father he was into under aged..I tryed to fight him and as a birth person from birth I was too scared to sleep..It took 3 years to get out of that home..I never lyed about it .I was 15 to 17. I knew it was wrong and I truly was uncomfortable in that home..He is dead now..In my day it was not talked about..That girl has the gall to ly about it.I am 55.
They need to look into that girl's home..The male she went to bed with..she is jail bate if the male is of age..

[NotPartyControlled]

This was a child, but not a person who should be allowed to break laws with false accusations and then go unpunished. A suitable example should be made. She is old enough to know what she did was wrong.

[abyss2hope]

What this case shows is that evidence matters and that all reports of rape should be thoroughly and competently investigated to protect public safety and to protect everyone's rights. Those who want to use this case to undermine the rape shield laws and allow prejudicial evidence about the alleged rape victim's sexual history are supporting injustice in the name of fighting injustice.

If an adult man committed a sex crime then that crime needs to be taken seriously and not excused because this girl made false statements to the police. If legal accountability for crimes is needed then it is needed for all who committed crimes and not just for this girl.