From 2004: Police press charges against woman who made false rape report

Sinead O'Brien, 21, of 15 1/2 Amy Street in Providence was charged Saturday with filing a false report of rape with the Little Compton Police Department on Thursday, Feb. 12.

In the report, Ms. O'Brien claimed that a white male forced her out of her car and raped her at gunpoint in a secluded area on South Shore Beach on Wednesday, Feb. 11. Sergeant Antone Marion and Patrolman Daniel Martin spent two hours interviewing Ms. O'Brien that day.

Rhode Island State Police were called in to assist in the investigation. Two Little Compton police officers were called in from off duty and were paid overtime for their work securing the crime scene and combing the beach for evidence.

After an additional interview with Little Compton and Rhode Island state police, Ms. O'Brien recanted her story on Friday, Feb. 13.

Making a false police report is a misdemeanor which carries a fine of up to $500 and up to a year in jail. Acting Police Chief Lt. Sid Wordell said he does not expect prosecutors to push for jail time for Ms. O'Brien, but that it is likely she will pay a fine.

"The penalty isn't based on what crime she reported. The penalty is based on case law for the crime of filing a false report." Lt. Wordell said.

Police are also asking that Ms. O'Brien refund costs they incurred during the investigation.

"As a part of this case we are going to request restitution for any expenses incurred by the Little Compton Police Department and any other agency that assisted," Lt. Wordell said. "If a suspect commits a crime and there are expenses, the victim can request they be paid for by the suspect. In this case [Ms. O'Brien] is the suspect and the victim is the police departments."

Police idid not uncover Ms. O'Brien's motive for making the false report, Lt. Wordell said. Ms. O'Brien grew up in a town near Little Compton and had frequented South Shore Beach in the past.

"When anyone reports a crime of any type of serious nature it heightens a fear in the town," Lt. Wordell said. "The original report was that there was a male raping a female at gunpoint so the fear level is increased that this type of a person may be out there to do that to someone else. The public should always be aware that this is a possibility, that this could happen. We're not immune to these types of crimes. Anything can happen even in the town of Little Compton. When someone makes a report like that, it falsely raises those types of fears and there are consequences that go along with that."