Winona student won’t be charged for false report

Published 6:00 am Friday, December 25, 2009

The Winona city attorney has decided not to charge a 19-year-old woman who falsely reported she was sexually assaulted.

The Winona State University student had told police a man put a bag over her head Dec. 5 and assaulted her in a parking lot.

Police launched an investigation and the school issued a campuswide alert. The Winona Daily News reports she later admitted making up the story.

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Police cited her for filing a false report and referred the case to the city attorney’s office, an unusual step for a misdemeanor ticket.

Assistant city attorney Brian Glodosky said he decided not to pursue charges because the woman had a clean record, is an honor student and because the incident was out of character for her.

He said she has problems better handled outside the court system.