Springfield woman charged with reporting fake rape

Saturday, July 19, 2008 | 5:30 p.m. CDT; updated 2:50 p.m. CDT, Tuesday, July 22, 2008
BY The Associated Press

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — A 28-year-old Springfield woman who reported being raped at her home last year is charged with making up the attack.

Karla M. Forest is charged with filing a false report, a misdemeanor. If convicted, she faces up to a year in jail and a $500 fine.

Forest told police last year that a man bound her feet and hands with duct tape, sexually assaulted her, then left.

On Friday, Jim Arnott, chief deputy for the Green County Sheriff’s Department, said police believe Forest has been lying. A probable cause statement alleges Forest scratched herself to the point of drawing blood, got undressed and duct-taped her wrists and ankles.

Authorities said forensic and DNA evidence led them to believe Forest staged the ordeal.

The department will ask that Forest reimburse the agencies that investigated the crime, which likely cost several thousand dollars.

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