2008 Woodie Awards
Alleged rape at Pine Haven proves false
Ryan Brossette
Issue date: 11/17/04 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
The Pinehaven resident who claimed to have been assaulted and raped in her campus apartment several weeks ago told McNeese State University police last week that she lied, saying in a written statement that she was, in fact, not raped and expressing "doubts that she was physically assaulted," university officials said last week. The investigation into the incident has been closed.
Brenda Sue Ellen Boitnott is now charged with filing false public records, a felony punishable by up to $5,000 in fines and up to five years in prison, campus police chief David Benada said, adding that she may also face misdemeanor charges of filing a false police report and criminal mischief.
McNeese President Robert Hebert said that the university will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law any person who knowingly files a false police report.
"Sexual assault is a terrible crime, and Mrs. Boitnott's claim of assault and rape caused unnecessary fear for the residents of Pinehaven apartments," Benada said.
Benada added that any notion that the false allegation of this already under-reported crime will in no way affect the seriousness with which campus police take future reports.
"Just because this ended up being a false report doesn't mean we won't take the next report just as seriously and dedicate just as much time to it," Benada said.
Benada said that he and his department's detective dedicated their time and resources over the last three weeks almost exclusively to Boitnott's case, for which there was never any physical evidence. University officials did not release a motive for the false report.
Boitnott may also face university disciplinary action for the several student code of conduct violations her actions fall under, according to Dean of Student Services Toby Osburn.
Boitnott told police on Oct. 21 that she had been assaulted, after they responded to hearsay that there had been an incident at the apartment complex. Boitnott did not herself phone authorities. She two days later added to the report that she had been raped during the attack.
Brenda Sue Ellen Boitnott is now charged with filing false public records, a felony punishable by up to $5,000 in fines and up to five years in prison, campus police chief David Benada said, adding that she may also face misdemeanor charges of filing a false police report and criminal mischief.
McNeese President Robert Hebert said that the university will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law any person who knowingly files a false police report.
"Sexual assault is a terrible crime, and Mrs. Boitnott's claim of assault and rape caused unnecessary fear for the residents of Pinehaven apartments," Benada said.
Benada added that any notion that the false allegation of this already under-reported crime will in no way affect the seriousness with which campus police take future reports.
"Just because this ended up being a false report doesn't mean we won't take the next report just as seriously and dedicate just as much time to it," Benada said.
Benada said that he and his department's detective dedicated their time and resources over the last three weeks almost exclusively to Boitnott's case, for which there was never any physical evidence. University officials did not release a motive for the false report.
Boitnott may also face university disciplinary action for the several student code of conduct violations her actions fall under, according to Dean of Student Services Toby Osburn.
Boitnott told police on Oct. 21 that she had been assaulted, after they responded to hearsay that there had been an incident at the apartment complex. Boitnott did not herself phone authorities. She two days later added to the report that she had been raped during the attack.