by Jim Kouri - The fellow exotic dancer of the alleged victim at the Duke University lacrosse team party, who earlier doubted the story of rape is changing her mind, and contacted a New York public relations firm to spin her story.
Kim Roberts, the victim's fellow dancer, had told The Associated Press on Thursday in her first news interview that she wasn't sure that had a rape occurred at the lacrosse team members house.
"I was not in the bathroom when it happened, so I can't say a rape occurred — and I never will," she said told AP.
But after watching defense attorneys release photos of the accuser, and upset by the leaking of both dancers' criminal pasts, she said she has to "wonder about their (players') character."
Meanwhile, Roberts contacted 5W Public Relations, a New York firm that specializes in "crisis communication," who distributed an e-mail signed "The 2nd Dancer," and Roberts confirmed she sent it after learning the AP knew her identity.
"I've found myself in the center of one of the biggest stories in the country," she wrote. "I'm worried about letting this opportunity pass me by without making the best of it and was wondering if you had any advice as to how to spin this to my advantage."
"If this person is indeed who they say they are, I would be happy to speak with her," said Torossian, whose firm has represented the likes of Sean "Diddy" Combs, Ice Cube and Lil' Kim.
Roberts, who prefers being called a "dancer" rather than "stripper," is facing criminal charges for embezzlement. If convicted, it's likely she will be incarcerated. Some question if she is making a deal with an ambitious prosecutor in an effort to avoid jail for her alleged crime.
Roberts, like the accuser a divorced single mother who is black, took umbrage at the notion that she should not try to make something out of her experience. She's worried that once her name and criminal record are public, no one will want to hire her.
"Why shouldn't I profit from it?" she asked. "I didn't ask to be in this position ... I would like to feed my daughter."
"If the boys are innocent, sorry fellas," she said. "Sorry you had to go through this."
But unlike her and the other dancer, she said, they have money to hire the best attorneys.
"If they're innocent, they will not go to jail," she said. But, she added, "If the truth is on their side, why are they supporting it with so many lies?"
The attorneys allege that Roberts has changed her story in order to gain favorable treatment in an unrelated criminal case against her. They note she also e-mailed a New York public relations firm, asking in her letter for advice on "how to spin this to my advantage."
Two of the players from the lacrosse team at Duke University, Collin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann, have been charged with the kidnapping and gang rape of an African-American stripper at an off-campus party. However, doubts have been raised about the identification of the two suspects by the accuser.
One commentator claims the accuser IDed the students from a photo line-up based on scratches she observed on their bodies. The attorney for Seligmann claims he has proof his client wasn't even in the house when the alleged rape occurred.
Earlier this week, a security guard's taped interview with a defense private investigator cast doubt on the accuser's and Roberts' story. Roberts had told the guard that she picked up the accuser in her car and drove her to a parking lot rather than to a hospital or police station. The guard told the investigator that she saw no signs of rape.
