Woman Lies About Rape to Cover Up Gambling Debt

A Temecula woman who said she was nearly raped when she interrupted a burglary was lying, according to a sheriff's sergeant.

The supposed victim reported a sexual assault on Aug. 9 in her home in the 31000 block of Lahontan Street, according to Sgt. Kevin McDonald.

She told investigators she returned home to find it ransacked. As she walked through at the house, a man grabbed her from behind and tried to rape her, she said.

The woman, whose identity was withheld, said she struggled with the man until she wriggled free. She darted to the bathroom, locked herself in and called 911, she said.

She gave a description of her attacked, who she said fled the scene before deputies arrived, McDonald said.

"Detectives ... continued the investigation and noted inconsistencies with the victim's statement," the sergeant said. "The victim (eventually) admitted ... that she had fabricated her statement about the burglary and attempted sexual assault in order to hide a recent gambling loss from her family.''

The case has been referred to the District Attorney's Office with a recommendation that the woman be charged with filing a
false police report, which is a misdemeanor offense, according to McDonald.