Here is a follow-up to the horrific story we reported
here.
Watch the video on the WPXI site
here. The news report provides some very disturbing details about a sick and twisted rape lie that put a young man and his family through "pure hell" for nine months. It is now clear that this was nothing more than a "he said, she said" case, and that law enforcement gambled with a young man's life solely because the false accuser was a convincing witness. Defense counsel Bill Difenderfer, a superstar criminal defense attorney in Pennsylvania, said this: "When it's his word against her word, you have to pause: you need more."
At the start of the television news report, the anchorwoman correctly exclaims: "He said he didn't do it, but no one was ready to believe him . . . ." And that's typical in virtually every case involving a rape claim.
We also learn here that Matt spent
four days in jail for a crime he didn't commit before he was released; that there was no DNA evidence (how could there be? Neither Matt nor the false accuser were with each other when the rape supposedly occurred); that at the time the false accuser said she was being raped, she was at a dance club, and that she spent the night with another guy (for his part, Matt was home with his parents); that she admitted she lied about Matt so she wouldn't get in trouble because the other guy gave her "sucker bites" -- as Matt's defense counsel correctly said: "Get out of trouble with my dad and let a kid go to jail for five or ten years"; and that Matt's family has had to pay $20,000 in legal fees. Mr. Difenderfer said this: “I have never seen such a fabrication as this. It’s such a sick thing to do.”
Here is the story from the WPXI site:
Teen admits to faking rape at South Park wave pool
CANONSBURG, Pa. — An 18-year-old Venetia woman is facing perjury charges after investigators said she lied about being raped in the parking lot of the South Park wave pool last year.
According to the criminal complaint, Katelyn Webster told authorities she raped by Matthew Folino while sitting in the pool’s parking lot in June 2012.
Webster told police that Folino put his hands around her neck to hold her down. There were marks on her neck to validate her story.
Folino, who adamantly denied the claim, spent four days in jail and was then placed on house arrest. Despite no DNA evidence, Webster was so convincing that the case headed for trial.
“I have never seen such a fabrication as this. It’s such a sick thing to do,” Folino’s defense attorney William Difenderfer said.
A few weeks before the trial, two of Webster’s friends came forward and said Webster wasn’t at the wave pool that day. They said she was at a dance club and spent the night at another guy’s house. They said the marks on her neck were ‘sucker bites’ from that guy.
Authorities said Webster admitted to making the false report earlier this month.
“It’s hard to understand why or how someone could sit there and lie for that long. This isn’t a white lie. It’s complete disregard for somebody’s well-being,” Difdenderfer said.
The complaint said she made up the story so she wouldn’t get in trouble with her father for having the marks on her neck.
All charges against Folino were immediately dropped.
“It was a great feeling to know they were dropped. What should have been done in the first place was done,” Folino said.
Webster faces charges of perjury, false reports to law enforcement authorities and false swearing.
The case has cost the Folinos more than $20,000 in legal fees, in addition to the damage to Matt’s reputation. The family said they plan to file a civil suit against Webster.
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ANOTHER STORY ABOUT THE CASE:
PITTSBURGH - A Pittsburgh-area teen has been arrested and charged with falsely accusing a young man of rape.
TV station KDKA reported Monday that 18-year-old Katelyn Webster of Venetia has been charged with perjury and making false reports.
Webster allegedly falsely told police that 22-year-old Matthew Folino of Canonsburg raped and choked her in June, 2012.
Folino was arrested and charged with multiple felonies. But two of Webster's girlfriends refuted her whole story, saying she was trying to hide another relationship and that the choke marks came from another boy.
The charges against Folino were dropped earlier this month.
George Bills Jr., Webster's attorney, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Webster was released from jail after posting $20,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 8.
http://www.yorkdispatch.com/ci_22872112/teen-arrested-allegedly-faking-rape
The story has even appeared on the San Francisco Chronicle website:
http://www.sfgate.com/news/crime/article/W-Pa-teen-arrested-for-allegedly-faking-rape-4385046.php Funny, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Pittsburgh Tribune Review have not covered the story.
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ANOTHER STORY ABOUT THE CASE:
An 18-year-old woman is charged with perjury after police say she lied about being raped while under oath.
According to a criminal complaint filed by the Allegheny County police in district Judge Robert Wyda's courtroom, Katelyn Webster, of Venetia, went to the Washington Hospital in June 2012 and reported she was raped by Matthew Folino while sitting in the South Park Wave Pool parking lot.
Webster told police Folino placed his hands around her neck and held her down in his vehicle, according to the complaint. Police stated Webster had "noticeable marks on her neck and back."
Folino was held for court after Webster testified against him at his preliminary hearing in August 2012, according to Wyda.
As Folino's trial approached this year, two female witnesses that were going to testify came forward and stated that Webster asked them to tell people they were at the pool with her on June 3, according to the complaint.
"It wasn't until they (the witnesses) learned of an upcoming trial that they realized the nature of Webster's request," police stated.
Webster was not at the wave pool, she was at Club Zoo with the two girls and they all spent the night at another guy's house, according to the complaint. That is where Webster got "sucker bites" on her neck from another man, according to police.
Police stated they interviewed Webster on March 6, 2013 regarding the new information and that she admitted to making the false report against Folino.
"She stated that she fabricated the story so that she would not get in trouble with her father for having 'sucker bites,'" according to the complaint.
Webster is now facing one count of perjury, one count of false reports to law enforcement authorities and one count of false swearing. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for Monday in Wyda's courtroom.
http://upperstclair.patch.com/articles/girl-charged-with-lying-about-rape
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ANOTHER STORY ABOUT THE CASE
Police: Woman admits making false rape claims
By Terri Johnson
Staff Writer
tjohnson@thealmanac.net
A Venetia woman was charged with numerous offenses, including perjury, after she allegedly admitted accusations she made of rape and sexual assault against a Canonsburg man never happened.
Katelyn Webster, 18, of 189 Irishtown Road Extension, was charged March 11 by Allegheny County police with one count each of perjury, false reports to law enforcement and false swearing for an incident she told county police occurred June 3 at South Park in Bethel Park.
Webster, police said, accused Matthew Folino, 27, of 118 Sunset Drive, Canonsburg, of raping her in a car in the parking lot of the wave pool. As a result of Webster’s accusations, Folino was charged with rape, sexual assault, simple assault and two counts of indecent assault. Those charges have since been dropped.
Initially, the charges against Folino were held for court following a preliminary hearing before District Judge Robert Wyda of Bethel Park on Aug. 6, during which Webster testified to the alleged event.
Folino’s criminal trial was set for March 20 in Allegheny County. But before the trial, two female witnesses came forward saying Webster asked them to say they were with her at the wave pool June 3. Both witnesses said they had been with Webster June 2 and 3, but the three were never at the wave pool.
On March 6, police say, Webster admitted that she had made a false report against Folino.
http://www.thealmanac.net/article/20130329/NEWS/130329913#.UVXypxfqncc
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I
NTERESTING COMMENTS UNDER A STORY ABOUT THIS CASE FOUND HERE http://peters.patch.com/articles/venetia-girl-charged-with-lying-about-rape#comment_6741180:
Concerned Citizen
10:25 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Why can't everyone just mind their own business? I feel terrible for the boy, yes! This is a terrible situation, but hasn't everyone done something wrong? Maybe not to this extent. Just let it go. Her and her family are gonna go through enough problems. Who are we to judge? Only God should judge her. Also, don't attack her family! They weren't in on it with her! Yes, it's wrong, but JUST LET IT GO!
brittany
10:58 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
obviously 3 of the people, including myself, have had a personal connection to this story... I'm sorry if its a little difficult to just "let it go" but I think your missing the big picture. This innocent man lost valuable time with his family. yes, he was on house arrest, but he was forced to stay in Allegheny county with his two elderly grandparents, instead of his own home in washington county. how you feel not being able to go to your own home for 9 months? how would you feel not having any contact with friends for 9 months? how would you feel having to prepare yourself for a 5 year jail sentencing for something you didn't even do? please try to look at the bigger picture of things before you tell people to just "let it go". I'm sure if this were your son, brother, or friend you would have a little more understanding. so maybe it would be best if you took your own advice and minded your own business.
Stephen
11:44 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Hey, lets face it, both of these kids have fallen victim to the "world." Yeah, maybe from the human standpoint this young man was falsely accused and unjustly treated, and now, this young lady will be put through an even worse situation. However, from God's standpoint, what both individuals are facing is the consequences of their sin. I feel for both of these individuals because somewhere along the line they were mislead to believe that pre-marital sexual relations is ok. This kind of stuff doesn't happen when sex is contained within the marriage relationship. However, I think moving beyond the blame game is necessary at this point. We obviosuly have two young adults going through something that many of us find unimaginable and the last thing they need to see is hateful speech directed at one another. Again, my heart goes out to both individuals involved in this matter and I pray that in these weeks leading up to Easter many of you would choose to show the same Grace that God gave to you when he allowed His son to die on the Cross for your sins.
What a "Twit"ter
1:04 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
I was going to post a link to her twitter page, just so everyone could see how much fun she's been having, but ironicly, the page hage been shut down...
Concerned Citizen
10:16 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
Why are you so obsessed with this girl? Unless you are related to the two kids involved, this is no one's business! So many people in this township act like vigilantes. Get a life off the Internet and mind your own business! Let the court do their job!
Karma is a b*tch
7:41 am on Friday, March 22, 2013
@Concerned Citizen: Obviously you are neither related, nor personally involved in this situation, so perhaps you should take your own advice. We all have lives, many of them disrupted by this piece of garbage. You have no idea the emotional damage and stress this girl has caused. The Folino's waited for "the court to do their job," waiting for the paperwork to be processed for Matthews ankle bracelet to be removed once it came out that she lied.
It took the Police four hours...Just FOUR hours with no evidence to back up her story to hunt him down and take him in.
It took over three weeks...Three freaking weeks while the paper work sat idle on the judges bench for his bracelet to be removed. It was only after repeated calls by his father to the DA's office and several heated conversations that there were advised, "just cut if off."
So unless you know what they went through, maybe you need to keep your thougts & opinions to yourself.
By the way...The story will be airing on KDKA early next week. ; )
Concerned Citizen
2:58 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
@Karma is a b*tch: You really don't know who you are talking to because we are connected. I feel very badly for Matthew. I see you are only out for vengeance. So may the courts do what's necessary, but don't belittle people in the process.
Karma is a b*tch
4:55 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
@Concerned "Let the court do their job!" That is the problem...the court was not doing their job...So where does that leave us? It leaves the Folino's doing 95% of the leg work and investigation to clear their son's name.
The police "had their guy," their job was done, case closed...Move on to the next perp.
The system is broken, "guilty until proven innocent" is how things are, not the other way around.
Karma is a b*tch
3:10 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
This article doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of what this young woman did. I wonder how bad her home life must be to weave such a wicked story just to hide from her parents where her "sucker bites" came from.
Within mere hours of her going to the police and fabricating her story, the police swarmed like angry hornets around the neighborhood looking for Matthew. Seven hours later around one or two in the morning while Matthew was playing video games, the police parked a block away and eight (8)
police came to the Folino residence to arrest Matthew with their weapons drawn as they were searching for a fugitive wanted for armed robbery.
I can't even begin to imagine the nightmare that followed...
(cont...)
Karma is a b*tch
3:17 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
It took the police only four hours based on a fictitious statement backed up by absolutely ZERO evidence to be on the hunt for Matthew and arrest him a few hours after that.
FACT: The "noticeable marks" on her neck & back were from a bra strap! There were NO other scratches or bruises.
On top of that she got two of her friends in on the lie and tweeted to them about sticking to the story they talked about.
Yet, when the police were made aware that this false rape accusation was completely fabricated it took several WEEKS for Matthew to get his ankle bracelet removed...
It seemed as if no one cared and just dragged their feet. The paperwork just sat waiting to be signed…Where was the sense of urgency to right a wrong for the real victim of this crime?
It was only after repeated calls by the Folino's to the prosecutor’s office that Matthew was told to cut off his ankle bracelet off with scissors just days before his last birthday...What a present!
It's a real shame the police NEVER apologized to Matthew for the way this was handled, especially after it came to light that this was made up.
Karma is a b*tch
3:25 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
The system appears to be stacked against men, just hearing from the Folino's personal experience. Put yourself in their shoes and imagine being told by someone that runs in the legal circle that deals with this court that it's referred to as "castration court."
This young woman and her family need to know what they put the Folino's through. I don’t think until they feel the financial squeeze of retaining a lawyer, the legal fees and court costs associated with mounting a legal defense will they truly understand what the Folino’s went through. All of the heartache, the pain & suffering the Folino's have had to endure fighting to save their son from a potential FIVE YEAR jail sentence.
Matthew’s crime? Playing video games in his house the night he was picked up by police, all because of a selfish woman's lie. Not a little white lie, a lie that was going to ruin the rest of this man's life.
I have no sympathy for this woman, and can only hope that she enjoys the same hospitality the system showed to the Folino's.
Matthew IS the victim of a horrible crime that had the potential to ruin the REST of his life. He would have gone to jail, had to register as a sex offender and had that black mark on his record for the REST of his life!
(cont...)
From the Land of Happy Little Trees...
3:54 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
The system appears to be stacked against men, just hearing from the Folino's personal experience. Put yourself in their shoes and imagine being told
by someone that runs in the legal circle that deals with this court that it's referred to as "castration court."
I don’t think until they feel the financial squeeze of retaining a lawyer, the legal fees and court costs associated with mounting a legal defense will they truly understand what the Folino’s went through. All of the heartache, the pain & suffering the Folino's have had to endure fighting to save their son from a potential FIVE YEAR jail sentence.
Matthew’s crime? Playing video games in his house the night he was picked up by police, all because of a lie. Not a little white lie, a lie that was going to ruin the rest of this man's life.
Maybe she will get to enjoy the same hospitality the system showed to the Folino's.
Matthew IS the victim of a horrible crime that had the potential to ruin the REST of his life. He would have gone to jail, had to register as a sex offender and had that black mark on his record for the REST of his life!
(cont...)
From the Land of Happy Little Trees...
4:12 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
What a scary world we live in where your life can be destroyed so easily by a lie. She needs to be punished to the FULLEST extent that the law will allow and made an example of.
Maybe she will do actual jail time, vs. just having house arrest...Nine months would be a good start, that's what the Folino’s lost and will never get back.
Not only did she almost ruin an innocent man’s life, she is wasting your tax dollars by filing a false report. She took police (a finite resource) away from dealing with actual crimes. More of your tax dollars will be spent prosecuting her now. In addition, gumming up the already overburdened legal system with a bogus case…Although not bogus anymore…Now she is the one being charged with a real crime.
How many other innocent men are in jail because of similar circumstances?
Lastly, this type of thing does not help the cause of people that actually were raped, if anything it has the potential to make it more difficult for actual rape victims.
