WABC’s Heidi Jones Admits False Attack Claims

NEW YORK (AP) — A TV meteorologist has admitted making up claims of being attacked twice in New York City, sparking an extensive police investigation.

Heidi Jones pleaded guilty Wednesday to two misdemeanor counts of falsely reporting an incident. She was sentenced to three years’ probation and 350 hours of community service. That’s the time prosecutors say police spent looking into her phony claims.

Jones told police Dec. 1 a man had attacked her in Central Park last September and again outside her apartment in November.

Jones has been suspended from her job at New York’s ABC O&O WABC.

She previously worked in cities including Albany, N.Y., and Houston.

She also has filled in on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”