Camera Phone Cited in Rape Allegation

A camera phone has been used as evidence in overturning a rape allegation against a group of US college basketball players. A woman has arrested for prostitution and falsely claiming that a group of college basketball players raped her at a Downtown hotel. She has told the police she felt "violated" because they agreed to pay her $1,000 for consensual sex but reneged.

"After having sex with [the victim], the individuals refused to pay her. At this point, she felt violated and told the individuals that she would have them arrested if they did not pay her," said an affidavit filed by sex assault detectives and made public yesterday.

Pittsburgh police charged Sherri Ann Urbanek-Bach with prostitution, filing a false report and criminal attempt to commit theft by extortion.

Police say that Urbanek-Bach became angered when the basketball players, whom she had propositioned earlier in the evening, decided not to pay her. She began threatening them, saying she would tell police they raped her if they did not pay.

One of the players surreptitiously recorded the threats on a video enabled cellphone. Ironically, the police are now having to investigate if the use of the cellphone violated Pennsylvania's wiretap law. That law forbids the recording of a conversation without the consent of all the participants."

Posted to the site on 9th February 2004