When college student Nikki Yovino reported that she was raped to the police, she didn’t expect to be the one arrested — or become a symbol for the men’s rights movement buzzfeed.com/tylerkingkade/…
Yovino says she was raped by two black men at a house party in 2016.
The accused men said it was consensual – and due to conflicting witness reports, prosecutors and police in Bridgeport, Connecticut agreed.
The accused men said it was consensual – and due to conflicting witness reports, prosecutors and police in Bridgeport, Connecticut agreed.
Eventually, Yovino told police she'd agreed to have sex with the men.
Later, she said she felt pressured by the cop who interviewed her to confess to lying: "He kept telling me how what I was saying wasn't true ... just admit it and all of this will go away.”
Later, she said she felt pressured by the cop who interviewed her to confess to lying: "He kept telling me how what I was saying wasn't true ... just admit it and all of this will go away.”
Yovino was charged with filing a false report to law enforcement and evidence tampering, based on the allegation that she’d had a rape kit performed while lying about being raped.
Facing up to six years in prison, she took a plea deal to spend a year behind bars.
Facing up to six years in prison, she took a plea deal to spend a year behind bars.
Yovino’s sentence has been celebrated online by those who believe that false rape reports are frequently made and rarely punished.
A branch of the National Coalition for Men tweeted: "Hey #MeToo, one down, a couple thousand more to go."
A branch of the National Coalition for Men tweeted: "Hey #MeToo, one down, a couple thousand more to go."
The men's names have not been publicized — but Yovino's is all over the internet.
Right-wing blogs argued this was one of many false rape reports to come from a "witch-hunt frenzy" on college campuses under the Obama administration's Title IX rules.
Right-wing blogs argued this was one of many false rape reports to come from a "witch-hunt frenzy" on college campuses under the Obama administration's Title IX rules.
There have been at least 127 women nationwide charged with falsely reporting a rape in the past five years.
Yovino’s case is a turning point in their campaign to ensure that college men accused of rape get due process, a cause championed by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.
Yovino’s case is a turning point in their campaign to ensure that college men accused of rape get due process, a cause championed by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.
The case’s racial element — Yovino’s white and the men she accused are black — has added to their indignation and helped fuel anger toward Yovino.
Though never charged with a crime, the men ended up leaving school to avoid expulsion.
Though never charged with a crime, the men ended up leaving school to avoid expulsion.
For victim advocates, Yovino’s case is a setback in encouraging women to report sexual assault, and a sign that police often treat victims as criminals.
While studies place the rate of false sexual assault allegations at 8% or lower, cops tend to believe it's much higher.
While studies place the rate of false sexual assault allegations at 8% or lower, cops tend to believe it's much higher.
The US Department of Education is expected to unveil new Title IX regulations on how colleges should handle sexual assault incidents.
According to Betsy DeVos, "one sexual assault is one too many, and one falsely accused individual is one too many." buzzfeed.com/tylerkingkade/…
According to Betsy DeVos, "one sexual assault is one too many, and one falsely accused individual is one too many." buzzfeed.com/tylerkingkade/…
