An 18-year-old woman was charged with perjury Thursday after she recanted claims that her ex-boyfriend had kidnapped, beaten and shot at her in late December.
During testimony before Columbus Municipal Judge Marc Amos on Thursday, Paris Easterwood, of 1415 Seventh St. N., denied that she had made the claims against 30-year-old James Earl Moore.
Moore, who has often been at odds with the law, had been charged in January with kidnapping and aggravated assault.
Easterwood had allegedly given a sworn statement after the incident that Moore had tricked her into entering his car, then punched her in the face and sat on her.
When he stopped the car near Third Avenue North and 18th Street North, she told police then, she exited the vehicle and fled on foot while Moore gave chase and fired two shots at her.
No shell casings were found in the area where she was allegedly chased, police said then.
In a trial involving felony charges, perjury carries a minimum penalty of 10 years in jail and a $10,000 fine.
In a statement released by Columbus police, Chief of Detectives Selvain McQueen said anyone who files false reports will be “charged and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Citizens are put at risk when police are tied up investigating bogus crimes,” he said in the statement. “We cannot and will not stand for it.”
Bond has been set for Easterwood, at $5,000.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.