Woman Tells Judge She Lied About Being Raped

Anthony Micaletti, 39 of New Castle, was in Judge Richard Mancini’s Beaver County courtroom today, where he was scheduled for a plea hearing on several charges related to an incident which allegedly occurred last December.

Micaletti’s ex-girlfriend had accused the man of holding her at gunpoint as he sexually assaulted her at the Beaver Falls Motel. He was charged by Pennsylvania State Police with multiple felonies, including Kidnapping and Aggravated Indecent Assault.

But that woman, who the Beaver Countian is now identifying as Krista Jo Mesko, 21 of East Rochester, showed up to the hearing to tell Judge Mancini it was all a lie.

Although warned by the District Attorney’s Office, advocates from the Women’s Center of Beaver County, and others that she should first seek counsel from a defense attorney, Mesko insisted she be sworn — She then told Judge Mancini under oath she had fabricated the entire story.

Prosecutor Kevin Kindred informed the court that in light of the woman’s statements, he would be dropping all charges against Anthony Micaletti.

“It’s an outrage” said District Attorney Anthony Berosh after the hearing. “Either something happened or it didn’t happen — We depend on the credibility of the people who come to us for help.”

Micaletti’s defense attorney, Dirk Goodwald, told the Beaver Countian that the District Attorney’s Office knew for weeks Mesko wanted to drop the charges against his client “They were agreeing to plead it out on a count of Simple Assault and Theft By Unlawful Taking [...] They knew she was recanting, but wouldn’t drop the charges against my client until she appeared in court.” Micaletti had remained jailed after failing to post a $50,000 bond in the case, and having a detainer filed against him by Mercer County.

“It’s not her decision whether to drop the charges, it’s our decision” said Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Popovich. “Because of the seriousness of this case, we weren’t going to do that until we heard her testify in court.”

Law enforcement sources say charges may soon be filed against Krista Jo Mesko for filing the false report.

Other sources say Micaletti intends to consult with attorneys about a potential lawsuit against the District Attorney’s Office for civil rights violations.

Here’s what Krista Mesko originally told State Police had happened to her, as taken from the Trooper’s Affidavit of Probable Cause:

The defendant arrived at the victim’s residence at [East Rochester], and an argument immediately ensued. The defendant produced a handgun and ushered the victim to his vehicle fleeing the area with the victim.

The victim and defendant arrived at the Beaver Falls Motel together eventually settling into room 12. Shortly after the defendant became enraged due to his belief that the victim, his ex-girlfriend, had begun a sexual relationship with another man. As the arguing escalated the defendant grabbed the victim by her hair and threw her onto the bed proclaiming she was “going to get fucked.” The victim began screaming and begged him not to at which point defendant exited the room briefly and returned with the handgun. The defendant pointed the handgun directly at the victim’s head, feeling helpless she relented and allowed the defendant to remove her shoes, pants, and underwear. Against the victim’s protestations the defendant forcibly penetrated the victim’s vagina with his fingers. The defendant eventually stopped when he was unable to become aroused and the victim found an opportunity to flee the room and call for help.

Prior to fleeing the motel the defendant removed $50.00 in cash and two cellular phones belonging to the victim. The phones were recovered in the defendant’s vehicle upon his apprehension.

Note: It is the policy of the Beaver Countian not to identify the victims of domestic abuse or sexual assault. As the woman in this case testified under oath she was the victim of neither, the Beaver Countian deemed it appropriate to publish the accuser’s name.