
MANHATTAN SUPREME COURT — Former WABC weather anchor Heidi Jones pleaded guilty Wednesday to falsely reporting two sexual assaults and will receive an hour of community service for each of the 350 hours cops spent investigating the claims.
Jones, 38, who was also given three years probation, did not speak at the hearing on two counts of misdemeanor falsely reporting an incident.
Instead she apologized through her lawyer for falsely reporting the sexual attacks in Central Park and in front of her apartment in September and November 2010.
"She wants me to express on her behalf her deepest regrets and her apologies for any inconvenience she may have caused," said her attorney, Paul Callan.
Outside court, Callan said Jones' life has been "destroyed" by her actions.
"She lost her job. She lost her apartment. She lost a lot," Callan said. "She's already paid a very high price for the crimes she pled guilty to today."
Jones, 38, was arrested in December after reporting that she was attacked by an Hispanic man, a remark that sparked outrage.
"I did make this up. I made it up for attention. I have so much stress at work, with my personal life and with my family," she allegedly said when she was arrested.
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Richard Carruthers agreed to the promised sentence of probation.
Jones will reappear in court for sentencing on Oct. 26.