False rape victim gets probation for charges

One must remember that for every false rape report, there are 20 credible rape reports, and 60 rapes which occured, but have either never been reported to the police, or worse, reports which have been deemed unfounded. In this case, while the perpetrator must be punished, one must remember that she is a true CSA victim and that her grandfather did go to prison for child rape.

A 22 year old woman has been ordered to spend a year in jail, with all but 8 days suspended, pay a $5000 fine with most of it suspended, perform community service and pay the professor's attorney's fees. Katherine Clifton, formally of Woodinville, WA was officially convicted and sentenced to making false statements to a public servant.

King County District Court Judge Peter Nault said the case saddened him and led to the castigation of the professor, who stated through a filing that though he has his job back, the experience (and court charges) will always stay with him.

"Even though I did absolutely nothing wrong ... my rape and burglary with sexual-motivation charges, albeit false, will remain in the court records forever."

Clifton declined to comment at the hearing but filed a detailed statement saying that she had been sexually abused by her grandfather, who was convicted of rape of a child in 1994.
"In order to understand why, I have to explain what has happened to me in my past that has forever affected me," she wrote.

Clifton, who now lives in Ellensburg, was sentenced to serve 365 days in jail, with 357 days suspended, and to pay a $5,000 fine, with $4,750 suspended, plus other conditions that include probation and community service. Nault also ordered her to pay the professor's attorney fees.

The professor declined to discuss the charges, saying he wants to put the past behind him, and asked not to be identified.

The King County Prosecutor's Office concedes a mistake was made in the original prosecution but said it was acting on the best information available at the time.

"In hindsight, what was presented to us was an allegation of a violent rape," said Ian Goodhew, deputy chief of staff. "That doesn't mean the investigation stopped."

Clifton was "an extremely articulate and credible victim," said Sgt. John Urquhart, Sheriff's Office spokesman. "There was no reason to suspect she wasn't telling the truth."

King County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Shelby Smith said Clifton's actions will also "harm the community of sexual-assault victims," who will find their cases more difficult to pursue.
"Other victims will be treated with more scrutiny," she said.

The investigation started after Clifton met with a detective and stated that the professor was stalking and trying to exchange grades for sex between March and July. On July 10, detectives contacted the professor and who acknowldged sending e-mails, denied seeing Clifton off campus. The professor was charged with 1st degree rape among other charges on July 12, with bond set at $500,000 dollars.

But as detectives continued working, it became clear that the text in the e-mails had been changed. None of the professor's fingerprints were found at Clifton's house. A sexual-assault examination found no evidence of rape.

The detective also checked on a supposed court order shown by Clifton to people at the college that seemed to bear the heading "In the Superior Court of Washington State for King County" and apparently ordered her not to talk about the professor.

But the judge's signature was illegible and the case number didn't match any King County filings.

Clifton admitted making up legal documents relating to the case and the false rape charges on July 25, with all charges being dropped July 26. Charges were filed against Clifton on July 27.

Clifton's attorney, Kelly Faoro, said her client has "extremely deep remorse" for the false statements and realizes that "none of this makes it any better" for the professor.