DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — A woman who authorities said falsely accused three Duke University lacrosse players of rape four years ago has been found guilty by a North Carolina jury of child abuse and damaging property.
A Durham County jury on Friday convicted 32-year-old Crystal Mangum of contributing to child abuse or neglect. She was also convicted of injury to personal property, and resisting a public officer stemming from a February confrontation with her live-in boyfriend. All the charges were misdemeanors.
The jury deadlocked 9-3 on a felony arson charge, and Superior Court Judge Abraham Jones declared a mistrial.
Police said Mangum piled her boyfriend's clothing into a bathtub and set it on fire while her three children and two police officers were inside the apartment.