Crime & Safety

Venetia Girl Charged With Lying About Rape

The suspect is facing one count of perjury.

An 18-year-old woman is charged with perjury after police say she lied about being raped while under oath.

According to a criminal complaint filed by the Allegheny County police in district Judge Robert Wyda's courtroom, Katelyn Webster, of Venetia, went to the Washington Hospital in June 2012 and reported she was raped by Matthew Folino while sitting in the South Park Wave Pool parking lot.

Webster told police Folino placed his hands around her neck and held her down in his vehicle, according to the complaint. Police stated Webster had "noticeable marks on her neck and back."

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Folino was held for court after Webster testified against him at his preliminary hearing in August 2012, according to Wyda.

As Folino's trial approached this year, two female witnesses that were going to testify came forward and stated that Webster asked them to tell people they were at the pool with her on June 3, according to the complaint. 

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"It wasn't until they (the witnesses) learned of an upcoming trial that they realized the nature of Webster's request," police stated.

Webster was not at the wave pool, she was at Club Zoo with the two girls and they all spent the night at another guy's house, according to the complaint. That is where Webster got "sucker bites" on her neck from another man, according to police.

Police stated they interviewed Webster on March 6, 2013 regarding the new information and that she admitted to making the false report against Folino. 

"She stated that she fabricated the story so that she would not get in trouble with her father for having 'sucker bites,'" according to the complaint.

Webster is now facing one count of perjury, one count of false reports to law enforcement authorities and one count of false swearing. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for Monday in Wyda's courtroom.

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