In 2016, Nikki Yovino had consensual sex with two football players in a bathroom at a party. The next day, she claimed she was raped, allegedly to impress a prospective boyfriend. The two students were suspended, lost their scholarships, and faced ostracism. It later came to light that she fabricated the claims, and has now been tried and convicted of making a false report. She was sentenced to 3 years, and will probably serve 6 months-1 year in jail then probation.


From the news story:

Nikki Yovino just doesn’t seem to get it.

The 19-year-old Long Island woman — who claimed she was raped by two Sacred Heart University football players, then admitted months later to police that she lied to impress a prospective boyfriend, then claimed on the witness stand she was forced to have sex without her consent. Until finally she pleaded guilty to criminal charges, admitting her deceit to a judge — stood handcuffed Thursday morning, rolling her eyes as one of the now former players poured out his heart in court. “I just hope you spend the time reflecting on what you did,” Superior Court Judge William Holden told Yovino, sentencing her to three years, suspended after she serves one year in prison and followed by probation.

Yovino agreed to plead guilty to two counts of second-degree falsely reporting an incident and one count of interfering with police, all misdemeanors, as the case was about to go to trial. She has already served three months in prison and likely faces another three months before she is eligible for release.

“This was not an easy charging decision for the state,” Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Tatiana Messina told the judge. “But with the evidence we had against Miss Yovino, we do believe this disposition is both fair and appropriate. Many true victims of sexual assault are often disbelieved, but that is because of cases like this and the impact they have on public perceptions. Miss Yovino’s actions are a disservice to those true victims, in addition to the two young men whose lives were greatly affected, and that was not something that could have been ignored.”

Yovino’s mother, the only member of her family there to support her, was kicked out of the courtroom after her cellphone went off.

Excerpted from Conneticut Post article


Takeaway lessons

  • Hookups at a party are risky behavior, for questionable reward
  • An accusation of rape is easy to make and difficult to defend
  • The tide is turning; women are being held accountable for false claims more and more
  • The wheels of justice turn slowly. The young mens' lives have been turned upside down for the last two years
  • The justice system can work, but it takes proaction and determination by the accused. If you don't do your due diligence, fail to follow up with prosecutors and lawyers, drop your efforts because of all the hassle, or accept a bullshit plea deal just to try to end it, then its not going to go as well for you or for other men in similar circumstances