By Shayna Jacobs and Olivia Scheck
DNAinfo Reporter/Producers
MANHATTAN CRIMINAL COURT — A WABC weather anchor accused of lying to police about an alleged sexual attack in Central Park told authorities she made up the story because she was stressed out and wanted attention, court papers filed Wednesday revealed.
Heidi Jones, 37, was in Manhattan Criminal Court Wednesday morning to face two misdemeanor counts of falsifyng records. Jones, who was arrested on Dec. 15, had her case adjourned until March 16.
"I did make this up. I made it up for attention," the Channel 7 weather anchor told police on Dec. 13, while retracting her initial report that she was attacked in broad daylight in September, according to court documents.
"I have so much stress at work, with my personal life and with my family. I know there is no justification for it," Jones said, according to the criminal complaint.
The anchor, who substituted on "Good Morning America" and did weekend evening weather reports before her suspension from the network following her charges, was not asked to enter a plea in court on Tuesday.
Jones allegedly said a Hispanic man in his 30s or 40s grabbed her from behind while she was jogging in Central Park on Sept. 24. She reportedly told police the assailant took her to a remote area and tried to rape her.
Jones first reported the alleged incident to the NYPD on Nov. 21 when she claimed the would-be-rapist tracked her down and told her he knew she'd gone to police.
Prosecutors say both claims were made up and Jones admitted as much after being confronted by police about discrepancies in her story.
The WABC weather anchor faces up to one year in jail and a maximum of a $1,000 if convicted.
Jones' lawyer, Paul Callan, said his client was innocent even though she didn't get a chance to enter a plea in court on Wednesday.
"She is presumed innocent of these charges and that presumption remains throughout the court proceedings," Callan said.
