Woman, 18, Charged With Falsely Accusing Sacred Heart University Football Players Of Rape: Report

FAIRFIELD, CT — A Sacred Heart University student is accused of falsely reporting being raped by two men, including a football player who was suspended from the team, last October.

Nikki Yovino, 18, of New York, turned herself in to Bridgeport Police on Tuesday after she recanted her original story, which alleged that the two men raped her in a basement bathroom at a house party on Lakeside Drive in Bridgeport on Oct. 14.

Yovino initially reported to police that she was allegedly assaulted by a Sacred Heart University football player and another man who was a former student.

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Police say they conducted a thorough investigation and met several times with Sacred Heart administrators.

"Initial statements from witnesses and evidence recovered from the scene suggested that a sexual assault had occurred," Bridgeport Police said a press release. "As the investigation continued, the case detective received more information that contradicted Yovino's statements to police. This information included new witness accounts, text messages and cell phone video. Yovino was confronted with this evidence, and admitted that she, in fact, did have consensual sex with both males."

Yovino made up the allegations in hopes of gaining sympathy from another man who she considered a prospective boyfriend, Daniel Tepfer of the Connecticut Post reported, citing information in an arrest warrant affidavit.

However, Yovino’s attorney told Tepfer that she denies the allegations and stands by her original story.

“The federal Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act prevents us from providing information about specific students,” Deb Noack, Director of Communications at Sacred Heart University, said in a statement. "However, I can say that some of the early information that was released is inaccurate. Sacred Heart never expelled the two students nor was any student stripped of scholarships because of any allegations.

“Whenever there is any kind of incident at Sacred Heart University, we go to great lengths to ensure due process for all parties involved. The way that this particular case is playing out certainly demonstrates the validity of our procedures.”

Yovino was charged with second-degree filing a false report and tampering with evidence. She was released on a $150,000 bond and is due in court on March 3, according to state judicial records.

Photo via the Bridgeport Police Department

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the football players were expelled from the university and stripped of scholarships.

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