A Wyoming woman has been sentenced for making a false statement to police alleging she was assaulted by an arresting officer.
Benita Louise Smith, 56, of Kinnear, was sentenced to time-served with two years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment fee for statements she made in the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal, according to a May 12 Department of Justice news release.
“Actual victims of sexual assault never really stop suffering,” U.S. Attorney Bob Murray said in the news release. “They suffer physical pain during and after the assault. They must become stronger every day because they suffer emotionally every day. And when they bravely stand up and speak the truth, they still face devastating attacks on their credibility.
"A false accusation of sexual abuse is a despicable criminal act," Murray added, according to the release. "It is a silent thief that steals so much from actual victims. This office and our law enforcement partners will continue to work hard and do our part to ensure these crimes are punished.”
The release reported police responded to a call for help on the Wind River Reservation Oct. 26, 2020. After arriving at the scene, officers determined Smith had an active arrest warrant.
After being escorted to the Wind River Detention Center, authorities said Smith falsely claimed she was sexually assaulted by the arresting officer during transport to the facility, according to the news release. With dash camera footage from inside the patrol car disputing her claims, Smith later retracted her story after a formal investigation was launched.
