Connecticut college student Nikki Yovino facing prison on charges of false rape allegations
Nikki Yovino was facing six years in prison on charges of falsely reporting she was raped and “tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.”
Nikki Yovino
A plea deal for the former Sacred Heart University student will reduce and may possibly keep the woman out of jail as Yovino agreed to plead guilty to “two counts of second-degree falsely reporting an incident and one count of interfering with police,” all misdemeanors.
“We were prepared to go to trial on the original felony charge, but after lengthy discussions with all parties involved and considering all outside factors, this was an appropriate disposition that will hopefully set a precedent about how serious the state takes this conduct,” Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Tatiana Messina told the judge.
“The important thing is that the victims are happy with the disposition,” added Assistant State’s Attorney Emily Trudeau.
Under the plea bargain, Yovino will be sentenced Aug. 23 to three years, suspended after she serves one year in prison and followed by three years’ probation.
“You understand you will be serving one year in jail?” the judge asked her.
“Yes,” Yovino said, nodding.
Yovino had accused two Sacred Heart football players of taking turns raping her in a bathroom at a party, but after witnesses told police that the sex was consensual, she admitted that she invented the gang rape because she wanted sympathy from a “potential boyfriend.”
“She admitted that she made up the allegation of sexual assault against (the football players) because it was the first thing that came to mind and she didn’t want to lose (another male student) as a friend and potential boyfriend,” according to the arrest warrant affidavit. “She stated that she believed when (the other male student) heard the allegation it would make him angry and sympathetic to her.”
Sacred Heart may be investigating or sued for punishing the players before any form of adjudication had taken place. The administration previously told The College Fix the players were neither expelled nor stripped of their scholarships “because of any allegations,” but the Post said a year ago they withdrew after they were “dismissed” from the team and their scholarships “revoked,” on the eve of a disciplinary hearing.
