Brody's Notes... Nebraska Lesbian Who Filed False Police Report Headed To Trial

Charlie Rogers, Booking Photo

courtesy of Lincoln Police Dept.

By Chris Dyer | LINCOLN, NE -- Lancaster County, Nebraska District Court Judge Gale Pokorny continued a case Thursday against a lesbian charged with one misdemeanor count of providing false information to police investigators until November 19.

The case against Charlie Rogers stemmed from her filing a report with Lincoln police investigators July 22 claiming she was the victim of an anti-gay hate crime in which three masked attackers invaded her home, painted homophobic slurs on the walls, and carved them into her skin, before attempting to set her house on fire.

Rogers, 33, a former standout basketball player at the University of Nebraska and who is openly lesbian, was charged after investigators determined that her claims of being attacked were an elaborate hoax. Rogers has pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor of providing false information to police.

During the hearing Thursday, Rogers waived her right to a speedy trial and her attorney Brett McArthur said the delay will give him a chance to wade through the forensic evidence, but declined to comment on anything he already may have found to back up his client’s account. “She’s been incredibly strong. The outpouring of support for Charlie has been incredible,” McArthur said after court.

Lincoln Police spokesperson, Katie Flood, told media organizations last month that detectives had found no evidence that indicates that the attack was staged, however, police said they were unable to identify any suspects in the case.