Roulette Woman Gets Probation for Falsely Accusing Man of Rape

COUDERSPORT – A Roulette woman has been sentenced to 12 months of probation after she admitted to falsely accusing a man of rape.

Peggy Sue Bickford, age 24, was sentenced on one count of False Report- Falsely Incriminate Another(M2) in Potter County court.

In November of last year Bickford made oral and written statements to state police alleging that Justin Crust, of Roulette, had raped her.

Crust, who denied the charges and told police he had consensual sex with Bickford, later passed a polygraph test.

Bickford then told police she would take a polygraph test, but she admitted to police during a pre-test interview that she had fabricated the rape charges against Crust.

Bickford later told police she had consensual sex with Crust and made up the rape charges so that her boyfriend would not kick her out of the house.

In addition to probation, Bickford was ordered to pay $250 in fines, serve 20 hours of community service, and take part in the Potter County DUI Victim Impact Panel Presentation.

Bickford was also ordered to pay probation supervision fees and to have no contact with her victim.

The case was prosecuted by District Attorney Andy Watson . Bickford was represented by Public Defender Brent Petrosky. Judge Stephen Minor heard the case.