I know I’ve been posting alot of news stories as of late. I’m sorry about that. But here is another gem that you may have missed, and is a good Year of the Priest story. It’s a tale of a false accusation, leading to a conviction for rape, four years of prison for an innocent man, and finally, the truth emerges when the accuser admits that she made the whole thing up to stop her friends from beating her. After reading the story, it sounds to me like this woman was in some sort of woman’s gang because they were slapping her around. Years later she does the right thing, with the help of a good confessor and the prodding of DNA evidence. The truth will set you free, and though this woman will be spending time in prison, I can’t help thinking that she feels somewhat liberated after carrying the knowledge of her guilt. I’m praying that this goes a long way toward the salvation of this woman.
Again, keep all of those involved in your prayers, especially the unnamed priest who is the real hero of the story. (note to self: I really need to finish my post on Reconciliation.)
From the New York Post:
A young mother who falsely cried rape, sending an innocent man to prison for nearly four years, will experience firsthand what he suffered — she’ll spend one to three years behind bars for perjury.
“I wish her the best of luck,” said William McCaffrey last night of Biurny Peguero Gonzalez.
“Jail isn’t easy.”
McCaffrey, 33, of The Bronx, was locked up after Gonzalez accused him of raping her at knifepoint on a Bronx street back in 2005.
It was a lie she repeated to doctors, cops, prosecutors, a grand jury and the jury that convicted McCaffrey.
***
Gonzalez was taken away after making a tearful apology to McCaffrey, who was not in court.
She also begged for mercy on behalf of her two sons, ages 3 months and 7 years.
“To Mr. McCaffrey, I am aware that nothing I do or say to him can bring back the years he spent in jail,” she said. “I want him to know I will carry this guilt for the rest of my life.”
Gonzalez, 27, had recanted her story last year after new DNA evidence proved she’d been lying and a priest to whom she’d confessed urged her to come clean.
God, bless your servant in the Bronx.
full story here.
UPDATE:
I found another article on this story from WPIX which names the priest, the parish and specifically mentions that the accuser had returned to her faith. The reporter, Stephanie Barash does a good job of covering this.
A woman – who accused a man of sexually attacking her more than four years ago – has confessed to her priest, that the attack never happened, police said.Biurny Peguero Gonzalez, 26, who recently tied the knot and has a baby on the way, said she found renewed faith in the Catholic Church and couldn’t go on living with the burden of the lie.
She admitted to her priest, Rev. Zelijko Guverovic of St. Anthony’s in Union City, that she had not been raped by William McCafferey, despite what she told her friends, law enforcement officials, and even a jury.McCafferey, who was later convicted of the crime, is currently in prison and has already completed 4 years of a 20-year sentence.Guberovic urged Gonzalez to speak with her lawyer, Paul Callen, who then brought her to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, where she reportedly recanted her testimony.
During the trial, Gonzalez told jurors she had met McCaffrey after a night of heavy drinking in September 2005. She said she had been in a car parked in front of an upper Manhattan eatery on Dyckman Street when he picked her up to go to a party. Some of her friends remained inside the restaurant when she left.
Realizing they were both too intoxicated to get behind the wheel, Gonzalez said they parked in a garage and got a ride with his friends to the party. When they realized the party was over, McCaffrey took her back to the garage. When he left, she told her friends – who were still inside the restaurant – that she had been raped.
Gonzalez said she went to Christ Hospital in Jersey City the following morning and showed nurses bite marks on her shoulder and arm, apparently from McCaffrey. The nurses, however, found no physical evidence that showed that she had been raped.
Gonzalez said she concocted the outrageous story because her friend became infuriated with her after she abandoned them without a ride from the restaurant – and said they even began physically abusing her.
According to the New York Post, the District Attorney’s office is now considering charging Gonzalez with perjury.
An attorney for McCafferey asked a judge Wednesday to vacate his conviction and to release his client.
Pray for Mr. McCaffery as he rebuilds his life, Mrs. Gonzalez who is taking the fearful road of following the Lord despite personal suffering, and the faithful servant Fr. Zelijko Guberovic. This story highlights the importance of Reconciliation, and how God acts through his priest to enact His will.
It’s Lent. Go to confession. Go tomorrow. (for more reasons to go Confession)
Nice story. Thanks for it, Luce.
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