We all want people who feel they've been victims of sexual misconduct to be empowered, and as a rule we should listen, so more will feel comfortable coming forward. It's important.
But imagine what it's like, believing in the movement, and having also been falsely accused publicly in the past.
To have your life and your family's life turned upside down. Three years and hundreds of stories reported on a false claim investigated by the FBI, where the end result was that the accuser was caught by law enforcement making the same false claim about another man. The proof was on video. The accuser was arrested and charged.
I've lived with years of news reports about me being accused of fabricated, heinous acts, with few telling the story of the accuser getting arrested, and my innocence. Knowing that false accusers can negatively impact the believability of others and are a true disservice to those who have been victims of sexual misconduct, I didn't draw attention to it.
I want the movement to continue to flourish
Always listen, and consider everything carefully, but please for everyone’s sake don't rush to judgement.
The #MeToo Movement is Crucial and Long Overdue
HEADLINES
August 10, 2010
Copperfield, 53, heralded Carroll's arrest as proof that the woman was a liar and a gold-digger, interested only in extorting money from Copperfield and cashing in on her allegations.
In a statement prepared after consulting with their client, Copperfield attorneys Patty Eakes and Angelo Calfo on Tuesday said Carroll "admitted to lying to police about the rape because she had to. Her lies were caught on tape, so she plea-bargained her way out of a jail sentence. "Her guilty plea shows that her claim that she was blacked out was nothing more than another Lacey Carroll hoax," they said. "Now she's a convicted liar; she's a disgrace to women who have been truly victimized."
(Excerpt)
COPPERFIELD ACCUSER PLEADS GUILTY
STATEMENTS
By Alan Duke, CNN
January 27, 2010
Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- A Seattle, Washington woman who accused illusionist David Copperfield of sexually assaulting her more than two years ago has now been charged with prostitution and making a false accusation in another case, according to Copperfield's attorney and Washington state officials.
Lawyer: "Developments vindicate Mr. Copperfield," prove "what he has said all along"
AUTHORITIE: DAVID COPPERFIELD'S ACCUSER CHARGED WITH LYING TO POLICE
Copperfield Accuser Drops All Charges After Being Ordered To Be Questioned Under Oath
April 20, 2010
David Copperfield has just found out that Lacey Carroll and her lawyers have suddenly dropped their entire civil lawsuit against him after a federal judge ordered Carroll to be questioned under oath by Mr. Copperfield’s attorneys. Carroll’s lawsuit was nothing but a pathetic attempt to extort Mr. Copperfield for money with malicious and false allegations. There was no settlement. Mr. Copperfield would not and did not pay Carroll a dime to drop her lawsuit.
Copperfield, his family, and friends are pleased, but this saga is not over. Carroll still has criminal charges against her in Bellevue, Washington for making a false rape claim against another man. Her lies were caught on videotape by the police in that case. Mr. Copperfield too can prove that she lied in this case—only this time to the FBI—and Mr. Copperfield is cooperating with government to have Carroll prosecuted for having wasted taxpayer dollars and law enforcement resources in a two and one-half year investigation of her false allegations.
FBI Ends Copperfield Investigation, Copperfield Accuser Investigated For Another False Rape Claim Against Washington Man
January 14, 2010
David Copperfield, his family and friends are relieved that federal prosecutors finally closed their investigation without bringing a single charge, after Bellevue police recommended that the so-called victim be charged as a criminal for making a false rape claim last month against a Seattle-area man.
Her lies to Bellevue police support what David has said all along: her two-year old claims against him are patently false, absurd and contradicted by each and every witness and by documentary evidence.
This woman's attempts to use law enforcement as a tool for extortion and financial gain should now be obvious to everyone.
SEATTLE. Jan 27 (UPI) - The Washington state woman who claimed she was raped by illusionist David Copperfield has been arrested on prostitution charges, police said.
The U.S. Attorney's Office in Seattle recently announced it would not pursue a criminal case against Copperfield after Lacel L. Carroll, a 23-year-old waitress and aspiring model, said the entertainer sexually assaulted her in the Bahamas in 2007.
DAVID COPPERFIELD'S ACCUSER ARRESTED
Copperfield Sets The Record Straight
August 19, 2009
Two years ago, false reports surfaced in the media that a Washington woman claimed she had been assaulted by David Copperfield. Now, this same woman has filed a lawsuit on this false, two-year old claim to get money. We had hoped to avoid responding to her allegations in public, but her filing of this lawsuit has forced us to do so, to respond to these false allegations and set the record straight.
This woman, who filed the lawsuit, has a history of lying. She has lied to law enforcement before and, as a result, had innocent people arrested based on a false accusation. She bragged to one of her closest friends that she could make up allegations against a guy to “take a guy down” if she wanted to. She said this before she even met Mr. Copperfield. Witness after witness who know her personally say she is incapable of telling the truth.
Her pattern of lying continues in this lawsuit. The facts are that there were more than twenty women and men on the island during her visit. The allegation that there was no one on the island to help her – even if she needed help – is preposterous. She met and talked with many people on the island, and spent hours with them on the beach, without Mr. Copperfield even present. Among the people she met was a female live-in island manager, who spent time with her on the island and told her that if she needed anything to just call. She never complained to anyone about her treatment, never showed any signs of distress and no one on the island saw her with scratches, bruises or any other signs of assault. That’s because nothing of the sort ever happened. Instead, she sun-tanned in her bikini listening to her iPod, jet-skied with island visitors, had playful conversations with guests, and swam on island beaches, day after day. She even had dinner with a group of island guests.
The notion that this woman was trapped on the island is absurd. There are telephones everywhere throughout the island that allow guests to call anyone in the world, including “911.” There is cellular phone coverage and even internet access on the island. She had access to jet skis and boats that she could have taken to the neighboring inhabited islands that are minutes away and not owned by Mr. Copperfield. She came to the island because she wanted to – no one lied to her – and she could have left the island on her own at any time.
This lawsuit is extortion for money, plain and simple. Unfortunately, false claims like this only hurt the women who really have been abused, women who really need our help.
For further information contact: Patty Eakes or Angelo Calfo, Yarmuth Wilsdon Calfo (206) 516-3800; (206) 335-6054; (206) 516-3835.
The Sun, NewsCore
April 22, 2010
ILLUSIONIST David Copperfield was completely cleared of rape charges after the ex-model who accused him dropped her civil lawsuit, The Sun reported today. Lacey Carroll, 21, alleged Copperfield, 53, attacked her on his private Caribbean island.
The magician denied the claims and was cleared by the FBI after a two-year investigation.
Carroll - accused of making a false sex assault claim against another man - mounted the civil action.
Copperfield's lawyer called it "a pathetic attempt to extort money."
MAGICIAN DAVID COPPERFIELD CLEARED OF RAPE CHARGE
January 26, 2010
The woman who accused David Copperfield of sexually assaulting her has just been indicted on charges of prostitution and making a false statement to a public servant
COPPERFIELD ACCUSER CHARGED WITH PROSTITUTION
By Sheila Mrikar
January 27, 2010
It's no illusion: Lacey L. Carroll, who had accused magician David Copperfield of raping her in 2007, has been arrested in connection with another case where she alleged rape.
Tuesday, Carroll was charged in Washington state with prostitution and providing a false statement to police regarding what happened on Dec 2, 2009 when she claimed to have been sexually assaulted by a 31 year old male in Bellevue, Washington.
WOMAN IN DAVID COPPERFIELD'S RAPE PROBE ARRESTED
By Mike Carter
January 26, 2010
The 23-year-old model who has accused magician David Copperfield of rape is now facing misdemeanor charges of prostitution and filing a false report after she allegedly tried to solicit $2,000 for sex from a man in Bellevue.
By Mike Carter
January 12, 2010
Federal prosecutors in Seattle have dropped their rape investigation of magician David Copperfield after learning the young model who claimed she was assaulted on his private island in the Bahamas two years ago is being investigated by a Bellevue police for alleged prostitution and giving a false statement.
PROSECUTORS DROP RAPE INVESTIGATION OF DAVID COPPERFIELD
By Mike Carter
January 13, 2010
Magician David Copperfield says the recent allegations of prostitution and giving false statements to police that have been leveled against the young model who accused him of rape two years ago are a vindication for him and show her to be what he has claimed all along: a liar.
COPPERFIELD CALLS ALLEGATIONS AGAINST ACCUSER 'VIDICATION'
By Mike Carter
January 26, 2010
The 23-year-old aspiring model who accused magician David Copperfield of rape is now facing misdemeanor charges of prostitution and filing a false report after she allegedly tried to solicit $2,000 for sex from a Mukilteo man and then accused him of molesting her when he refused.
COPPERFIELD'S ACCUSER CHARGED WITH PROSTITUTION
WOMAN WHO ACCUSED COPPERFIELD OF RAPE IS NOW FACING PROSTITUTION CHARGE
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
January 13, 2010
SEATTLE -- Federal prosecutors closed a two-year rape investigation of magician David Copperfield on Tuesday without filing charges, and police in nearby Bellevue say his accuser made a false sexual assault claim against another man last month.
TWO-YEAR INVESTIGATION OF MAGICIAN DAVID COPPERFIELD CLOSED
January 27, 2010
A 23-year-old woman who accused illusionist David Copperfield of rape has been charged with misdemeanors in an unrelated case for prostitution and filing a false police report.
COPPERFIELD'S ACCUSER CHARGED WITH PROSTITUTION
January 27, 2010
Bellevue, WA, United States (CNS) - David Copperfield's accuser has been hit with a lawsuit. The woman who alleged the Emmy Award-winning illusionist of sexually assaulting her has been indicted on charges of prostitution and making a false police statement.
DAVID COPPERFIELD'S RAPE ACCUSER CHARGED WITH PROSTITUTION AND MAKING FALSE POLICE REPORT
January 13, 2010
Cops: Seattle woman lied about second-purported sex attack
COPPERFIELD'S ACCUSER GETS ACCUSED