Heidi Jones, Ex-Weather Anchor Accused Of Fake Rape Claim, Was Not Read Rights.
A former WABC weather woman may have found her get out of jail free card.
The Daily News reports that Heidi Jones, the weatherlady who lied about being raped, was not read her Miranda rights before being questioned, according to the DA and her attorney.
Jones originally told police that she had been sexually assaulted by a Hispanic man in Central Park. But when a manhunt turned up nothing, prosecutors allege Jones told police she made the whole story up for attention.
Now Jones’ lawyer, Paul Callan, wants those statements thrown out because his client was not made aware of her legal right to remain silent.
From the Daily News:
Manhattan prosecutors admit in legal papers that Jones was never read the Miranda warning, but insist it’s a non-issue because she was not under arrest.“The defendant was not in custody at the time her statements were made,” Assistant District Attorney Shanda Strain wrote in court papers. “Miranda warnings were not required and the statements taken \[from\] the defendant was lawfully obtained.”
But Callan tells The New York Post, “That is a clear-cut violation of her Constitutional rights. The DA has confirmed no Miranda warnings were given despite being interrogated by two police detectives.”Jones faces up to a year in prison and a $1,000 fine if convicted.
