N.J. Couple Accused of Fabricating Sexual Assault Claims Against State Troopers After Domestic Dispute
A New Jersey couple is facing significant charges after officials claim they faked sexual assault allegations against state troopers who attended to their house during a domestic dispute investigation. Prosecutors said the statements were repeated to several agencies and medical staff after the occurrence.
Authorities say 35-year-old Randal Kelco and 45-year-old Lisa DeStefano of Bloomsbury allegedly reported that Kelco was attacked by numerous New Jersey State Troopers during the reaction to their Hunterdon County home two years ago. Reviews, interviews, and a detailed inspection of responding officers’ body-worn camera footage followed the charges.
State investigators say footage contradicts every detail of the couple’s sexual assault claims. Investigators found no trooper misbehavior in the video. The clear and consistent evidence disproved Kelco and DeStefano’s claims to hospital staff and multi-agency law enforcement investigators.
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin charged both with second-degree false reporting to police. False allegations destroy reputations and entail heavy fines in New Jersey. They waste resources, damage public trust, and make officers seem bad for untrue instances.
Law enforcement takes all sexual misconduct charges seriously, but this example shows why the investigating process relies on verified facts, including body camera footage. This technology, which is essential to modern enforcement accountability, helped clarify what happened at home.
Officials have not explained why the pair reportedly made the accusations or the domestic disturbance that drew troopers to the home. The allegations indicate that prosecutors believe the fraudulent reports were repetitive and intentional, not accidental or misinterpreted.
Kelco and DeStefano can now reply to the charges in the criminal court system. State officials emphasized transparent evaluation of misbehavior allegations and holding individuals accountable for intentionally fabricating reports.
Sources:
Attorney General of New Jersey
New Jersey State Police
Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office
