Former TV meteorologist Heidi Jones has pleaded guilty to faking claims she was assaulted by a mystery man in Central Park.
TheNew York weather presenter will serve 350 hours community service after admitting fabricating the attack.
The ex-WABC forecaster also got three years probation and was ordered to get psychiatric counselling, New York Daily News reported.
Had she been convicted in court the broadcaster could have faced up to two years in prison.
Jones, 37, who worked for WABC/Channel 7 and filled in on 'Good Morning America' in the past, was given 350 hours because it matched the amount of time the NYPD used on her case, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors took the unusual step of indicting her without notice of the grand jury or an opportunity to testify. New York law doesn't require notice in all cases.
Ms Jones told police she'd been attacked by a Hispanic man while jogging in Central Park, and again near her apartment, but prosecutors later said she 'made it up for attention'.
After police confronted her with discrepancies in her version of events, she admitted inventing the story, blaming a stressful job.
surveillance video and appealing for witnesses, sources said. Returning empty handed, they questioned Jones again, uncovering inconsistencies as she repeated her account.
When confronted with the discrepancies Jones allegedly admitted that she made up the story in a bid for sympathy.
She reportedly told detectives: ‘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.'
She allegedly added in a statement to investigators: ‘I know there is no justification for it.’
The
The ex-WABC forecaster also got three years probation and was ordered to get psychiatric counselling, New York Daily News reported.
Ex-TV weather gal Heidi Jones admitted she lied to cops, pleading guilty to two misdemeanor counts of filing a false police report
Jones, 37, who worked for WABC/Channel 7 and filled in on 'Good Morning America' in the past, was given 350 hours because it matched the amount of time the NYPD used on her case, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors took the unusual step of indicting her without notice of the grand jury or an opportunity to testify. New York law doesn't require notice in all cases.
Ms Jones told police she'd been attacked by a Hispanic man while jogging in Central Park, and again near her apartment, but prosecutors later said she 'made it up for attention'.
After police confronted her with discrepancies in her version of events, she admitted inventing the story, blaming a stressful job.
Charges: Jones had claimed she was attacked by a Hispanic man who then threatened her outside her home, but later told police she 'made it up'
Defence lawyer Paul Callan said: 'She's expressed personal responsibility for this unfortunate incident. She wants me to express, on her behalf, her deepest regrets and apologies for any inconvenience that was caused to the New York City Police Department or to any law enforcement officials in connection to this incident.'
Earlier, MailOnline.com reported that Jones was in discussions for a plea deal with prosecutors.
Mr Callan had previously tried to get statements Jones allegedly made to police barred as evidence at her trial.
This includes the claim that Jones told police she fabricated the story, according to court papers.
She originally claimed she was attacked while running. She only reported it to police two months after the supposed incident after the same man approached her outside her home, she said.
Detectives made lengthy investigations, scouring Earlier, MailOnline.com reported that Jones was in discussions for a plea deal with prosecutors.
Mr Callan had previously tried to get statements Jones allegedly made to police barred as evidence at her trial.
This includes the claim that Jones told police she fabricated the story, according to court papers.
She originally claimed she was attacked while running. She only reported it to police two months after the supposed incident after the same man approached her outside her home, she said.
Central Park: Ms Jones had told police she was assaulted while jogging in the park
When confronted with the discrepancies Jones allegedly admitted that she made up the story in a bid for sympathy.
She reportedly told detectives: ‘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.'
She allegedly added in a statement to investigators: ‘I know there is no justification for it.’
No comments:
Post a Comment