A woman is facing a misdemeanor charge after reporting an alleged sexual assault to the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office and contacting a television station.
Kathleen Knott, 45, of Hayes, was charged with making a false police report June 15 in connection with an incident on June 10, the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post.
Deputies were dispatched June 10 to a call about a sexual assault at the Yorktown waterfront. Investigators went to both the scene and a local hospital, where Knott told them she was assaulted sometime between 9 p.m. on June 8 and 12:45 a.m. June 9.
Knott contacted a local news station and provided “elaborate” details, the sheriff’s office said.
Authorities do not believe the story aired, sheriff’s office spokeswoman Shelley Ward said.
After an interview with Knott, the sheriff’s office identified a suspect, whom they also interviewed.
Investigators interviewed Knott, the suspect and witnesses, and also reviewed video footage. After the investigation, the sheriff’s office determined the assault had not happened.
