Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice has decided not to file criminal charges against a Hofstra University freshman who falsely claimed she was gang-raped in a dormitory bathroom.
The dorms at Hofstra University.
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Rice says Danmel Ndonye must undergo mental health treatment and lengthy community service in exchange for not being prosecuted.
The 18-year-old, previously described by the prosecutor as “a deeply troubled woman,” had claimed she was attacked following a dance party at a Long Island campus nightclub. Four men were arrested and a fifth was being sought when she recanted the story three days later.
The turning point in the case came when the woman was confronted with existence of a videotape of the encounter, which indicated the sex had been consensual. Ndonye stated that she did not engage in any sexual activity with the fifth man, Hofstra student Rondell Bedward, according to Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice.
The four accused men were released two hours after the woman changed her story.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.
