There’s an episode of Law and Order: SVU out there where a young white woman and her boyfriend were looking to cover up a crime by blaming it on “a black guy” they “couldn’t really see”. Fortunately, the detectives caught on early and let them bury themselves in their lies. But it was Detective Fin Tutuola’s (played by Ice T) response of “Why is it always a black guy?” that stuck with me more than any other detail of the episode.

This scene came back to mind when it was reported that Leiha Ann-Sue Artman, 25, had completely fabricated a story where she claimed that she was kidnapped, beaten and raped for two days by four black men, according to MLive. She’d even gone as far as to send selfies with head injuries and gagged to her boyfriend with demands for a ransom. 

Eventually, Artman told her boyfriend that her fictitious kidnappers had dropped her off near her home and she was instantly taken to the hospital. That’s when she confessed to authorities that she made the entire story up.

Artman was brought into court recently and pleaded guilty to making a false report of a felony, which had a maximum penalty of up to four years in prison. However, despite having a criminal record, she was only sentenced to one year in jail, two years probation and a $1,158.

This is a bit concerning given the results that could’ve come from her false accusations. If she would’ve taken matters a step further and actually come up with actual descriptions, who knows what could’ve happened to any black men in the area that authorities came across.

 

Photo Credit: Muskegon County Jail