Plea Changed in Fake Hate Crime Case - KHGI-TV/KWNB-TV/KHGI-CD-Grand Island, Kearney, Hastings

A Lincoln woman accused of faking a hate crime in July has changed her plea from not guilty to no contest.

Charlie Rogers, 34, was found guilty Monday of making a false report after she changed her plea, which means she is not admitting her guilt, but she is also not offering a defense.

According to Rogers' attorney, she is maintaining her innocence but changed her plea because she didn't want a court fight.

Rogers originally told police that three masked men broke into her home, beat her and carved anti-gay words into her body. Authorities believe she faked the attack in hopes of sparking a change.

Rogers is scheduled to be sentenced in February, and faces up to a year in jail along with a $1,000 fine.