FALSE ACCUSER Lauren Pearson Charged. Male Sues CorkerU, Hartsville, Police, Over Female’s False Accusation
A former student has filed suit against Coker University and the city of Hartsville after he was temporarily withdrawn from the university and arrested following a false rape allegation by Lauren Pearson.
An attorney for the male student filed multiple suits against the city of Hartsville, its police department, three officers, Corker University and several individuals. The attorneys argue that the university discriminated against their male client by charging him with a violation of Title IX, but not doing the same when Lauren’s allegations proved false. Reaching an erroneous outcome in its decision to withdraw the accused male before an investigation, and that the university breached its contract by not following the procedures outlined in its handbook regarding sexual assault, administrative withdrawals, and Title IX violations. Attorney’s for the male student, Cesar Lopez, argue that his Fourth Amendment, Eighth Amendment, due process, and equal protection rights were violated by the city and the individuals in several counts of claims, that he was falsely imprisoned, and that the city and its police department were negligent in supervising its police officers. Lopez’ allegations stem from a false rape accusation made by Lauren Pearson in late April 2018.
At the time of Pearson’s false rape accusation, Lopez, was a sophomore on the Coker soccer team receiving an academic scholarship. The encounter between Pearson and Lopez occurred at Corker University in April, 2018. Afterwards, Pearson claimed she was raped to law enforcement officials from the city of Hartsville. Lopez was then warrantlessly arrested by the Hartsville Police Department. Lopez’ complaint against Corker university states that the arrest was made prior to the case being assigned to a detective for investigation and prior to any interviews of witnesses. The complaint against Hartsville city alleges that Lauren Pearson did not respond to police calls for two days after her report but submitted to a polygraph test on May 2. Pearson attended a meeting on May 3rd in which she was charged.
Lauren Pearson’s accusation of rape fell apart during the week of April 30th. According to Lopez’ amended complaint against the university, Pearson accused two male students of rape the previous semester. Pearson was seeing a male named “A.E.” in 2017. After A.E. ended their relationship, Pearson had a relationship with a different male. She then informed A.E. that the other male raped her. A.E. confronted the male and learned that the accusation was false. Pearson then sent a message to A.E. through a friend that she had made up the accusation against the other male. Pearson reunited with A.E., but then he ended their association for good. Pearson accused A.E. of raping her. Cesar Lopez’ amended complaint notes that A.E. received a no-contact order and his claims that the accusation was false were not investigated despite Coker university policy and Title IX requirements.
The complaint against the city alleges that Lopez informed the officer that Pearson had made false accusations against A.E. The officer ignored this report and the inconsistencies and instead arrested Lopez. The detective assigned to investigate the case spoke with A.E., who provided evidence of Pearson’s previous false accusations.
Lauren Pearson was arrested on May 4, 2018, and charged with filing a false report. Filing a false police report accusing someone else of a felony is a felony and carries a penalty of not more than five years in prison and not more than a $1,000 fine, or both.
The amended complaint filed against Corker University indicates that Pearson was administratively withdrawn from the university following her arrest. After Pearson was withdrawn, Lopez was reinstated to the university. The amended complaint against the university indicates that this was two days after the university learned the allegations were false. Cesar Lopez was cleared of the alleged Title IX violation a week later, according to the amended complaint.
www.scnow.com-Matthew Christian
