Stanford University employee arraigned on perjury charges after lying about being viciously raped

A Stanford University employee was charged with perjury after she allegedly lied about a colleague who raped her twice after he rejected her romantic advances.

Jennifer Gries, 25, of Santa Clara, during her first court appearance on Monday, failed to address two felony counts of perjury and two counts of misdemeanor filing a false report.

Gries allegedly fabricated allegations of rape by a co-worker that in turn sparked widespread panic on the Stanford campus about a sexual predator stalking women in the area.

Protesters came to campus last October over rape allegations that prosecutors now say were bogus and allegedly the result of an unrequited crush.

It is believed that Gries made up the lies as part of a revenge plot against the colleague, whom she allegedly accused of guiding her.

Gries was ordered to return on June 21 to enter a plea. She remains free under supervision in the meantime. She was also given a restraining order, requiring her to stay at least 300 meters away from the colleague she made the allegations about.

No mug shot or images of Gries have been released yet. Stanford fired her from her housing services job after she was charged with the crime.

Gries filed two rape charges two months apart, both against her colleague, who may have rejected her romantically

Her first report came last August, when Gries claimed she had been in a parking lot near a campus dining hall when an unknown man grabbed her, took her to a bathroom, told her not to scream, and raped her.

She reported it to Valley Medical Center, where she went for a forensic examination of sexual assault. There she told the medical staff that she did not want to talk to the police.

Almost exactly two months later, in October, Gries sought another forensic investigation after she said a man walked into her office on campus and dragged her into a basement, where he then raped her. Again, Gries refused to talk to the police.

On both occasions, Gries gave a generic description of her colleague – a six-foot-tall black man in his late twenties – as her alleged attacker. Gries’ race has not been made public.

The reports sparked widespread fear that a rapist was running on the Stanford campus.

A student group, Sexual Violence Free Stanford, led a protest march after the report of the second rape.

Protesters called for more counseling for survivors, better training for incoming students, and the immediate removal of all students and staff guilty of sexual assault. They blamed the school for not helping victims.

Students held posters that read, “Stanford Protects Rapists.”

The false report charges filed against Gries allege that she lied to the hospital’s medical staff, who, each time she arrived, made it clear that they had an obligation to notify the police of the reports.

The perjury counts are based on Gries’ signing forms to receive benefits from the California Victim Compensations Board.

Further, prosecutors allege that prior to her alleged false rape reports, Gries filed a complaint with Human Resources saying she had become pregnant with her colleague’s twins and then miscarried after he raped her.

Those allegations were considered unfounded, according to authorities.

Gries was fired from her position at the university following an investigation following her arrest in March

Sexual assault survivor advocates fear Gries’s case could affect whether future victims of sexual assault or rape will file their claims.

Investigators investigating the case say they found text messages Gries sent to another co-worker discussing trying to make the male co-worker’s life a “living hell.”

“I come with a plan,” she wrote.

Authorities say the man was never involved with Gries and the multiple rape kits failed to provide any corroborating evidence regarding her claims.

District Attorney Investigators Sheena Woodland said that in a previously taped police interview, Gries “admitted to lying about the rapes and wrote a letter of apology to the target of the false allegations.”

In that interview, Gries said she was “angry with the victim” for giving her “false intentions” and “turning her friends against her.”

The allegations against Gries have sparked an uproar among sexual assault survivor advocates, who fear they will make it even more difficult for future victims to secure a rape conviction.

The Santa Clara County District Attorney considered this position when announcing charges against Gries, saying the allegations against the young woman were a “rare and highly destructive crime” that will affect “legitimate victims of sexual assault who wonder if they will be believed’. ‘

On Monday, Marina Mankaryous – the prosecutor handling Gries’ case – encouraged those who have been victims of sexual assault to continue reporting these crimes.

“A case like this is detrimental, not only to the victim, but also to survivors of sexual assault who may be discouraged,” she said.

“But again, we at the Public Prosecution Service want to encourage people to report it, they will be supported and we will hold sex offenders accountable.”