Prosecutors announced Friday that they wouldn’t be filing charges against a Texas woman who falsely accused a state trooper of rape.
Though Sherita Dixon-Cole, 37, made “blatantly false and malicious allegations,” the Ellis County District Attorney said she won’t face criminal charges as she never made a formal complaint, according to KDFW.
“This office shares the outrage felt by the general public for the blatantly false and malicious allegations made by Sherita Dixon-Cole,” the Ellis County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement.
“We know this decision will frustrate many in the public who have called for criminal charges. We share the public’s frustration.”
Dixon-Cole reportedly lodged her complaint to jailers, who aren’t sworn peace officers. The news station noted that only sworn peace officers can make a formal complaint. She also didn’t claim she was in immediate danger, meaning she can’t be charged with creating a false alarm.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, body camera footage appeared to disprove Dixon-Cole’s account that Department of Public Safety Trooper Daniel Hubbard made unwanted sexual advances towards her during a traffic stop. Dixon-Cole was ultimately arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.
Dixon-Cole’s lawyer, Lee Merritt, claimed Hubbard had forced his client into his vehicle, where he groped and sexually assaulted her.
READ More: [Video] Body cam footage clears trooper accused of sexually assaulting DWI suspect, cops say
However, Hubbard’s body cam catches nothing of the sort.
“Officer Daniel Hubbard seems to comport himself professionally during the duration of the traffic stop and arrest and—without more—should be cleared of any wrongdoing,” Merritt said in a press release issued shortly after damning footage came to light.
“It is deeply troubling when innocent parties are falsely accused and I am truly sorry for any trouble these claims may have caused Officer Hubbard and his family.”
In a separate statement, Ellis County District Attorney Patrick Wilson denounced those who used Dixon-Cole’s story to fan the flames on social media, calling it “the real harm in this case.”
“That bell, once rung, cannot be un-rung,” Wilson said. “Baseless digital rage can create real world, innocent victims.”
[Featured image: Texas Department of Public Safety, video screenshot]
