VERGENNES — A Vergennes woman pleaded innocent on Monday in Addison County Superior Court, criminal division, to a felony charge of false swearing and a misdemeanor charge of giving false information to a police officer, after she allegedly made a false allegation that her husband had sexually assaulted her.
The case dates back to June 6, when Penny S. Rozon, 56, told Vergennes Police Chief George Merkel that her husband had sexually assaulted her on June 2, according to court records. Seeing bruises on Rozon’s arms, Merkel relayed the complaint to Det. Sgt. Ruth Whitney of the Addison County Unit for Special Investigations. Whitney subsequently interviewed Rozon, who claimed her husband — whom she alleged was under the influence of alcohol — had thrown her onto the bed and sexually assaulted her, according to Whitney’s affidavit.
Whitney urged Rozon to undergo a sexual assault medical exam at Porter Hospital, which she did, according to court records. That exam revealed no evidence that Rozon had been sexually assaulted, according to Whitney’s affidavit.
Whitney interviewed Rozon’s husband, who denied having assaulted Rozon and alleged that Rozon had become distraught when he had informed her that their marriage was over, according to court records. The man later took — and passed — a polygraph test in connection with the case, according to Whitney.
Rozon also allegedly claimed the man had sexually assaulted a 14-year-old several years ago, according to court records, but police said they interviewed that alleged victim and found the claim to be false, according to court records.
Whitney reported receiving a voice mail from Rozon on June 20, during which she asked to drop the charges against her husband, claiming she and her husband were drunk and she did not remember what had happened that night, according to court records. Rozon later admitted to Whitney that she “wanted to get back at (her husband) because he was leaving her,” according to Whitney’s affidavit.
A conviction on a felony count of false swearing carries a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in jail and/or a fine of up to $10,000. Conviction on a misdemeanor count of providing false information to a police officer carries a penalty of up to one year in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000.