Woman admits false rape claim report

A Whitefish woman Wednesday admitted filing a false rape report last month.

"This is the first one I've had that was a straight-up fabrication," said Whitefish police Detective Sgt. Roger Bergstrom.

Cheryl White, 30, was charged with making a false report and false swearing.

She told police that she was attacked at about 12:30 a.m. Aug. 15 at Riverside Park. She gave a description of her attacker and was taken to a hospital for a rape exam. She had a facial injury and said her cell phone was smashed in the assault.

Bergstrom said an intense investigation began immediately, with police using the Fire Department's sodium lights to illuminate the park to look for evidence. They returned at daylight to search with a metal detector and went back several more times.

Bergstrom said it was odd that White's clothing was dry, despite sprinklers timed to go off in the area where she said she was attacked. Her phone records also contradicted what she told police.

"Her cell phone blew her story all to hell," he said. Her records showed she made four calls before leaving a bar hours earlier, something she didn't tell police.

Bergstrom said White was extremely distraught during the investigation and was unable to help with details, he said.

On Wednesday, she admitted she made up the story after having consensual sex, which she regretted when she returned to her boyfriend, Bergstrom said. She said her injuries and the damage to her phone were from falling down some stairs.

She received suspended sentences on the misdemeanor charges. She was ordered to pay $2,600 for investigative costs. She can substitute the cost of counseling for restitution, Bergstrom said.

During the investigation, officers learned that a warrant had been issued for White on a charge of writing bad checks. She has satisfied those debts now, too, Bergstrom said.