Georgia lesbian who accused deputy of rape arrested for stalking

An Athens, Ga., woman who accused a Gwinnett County deputy sheriff of raping her because she is a lesbian has been arrested for allegedly stalking her former lover while armed with a handgun. Athens-Clarke County police said the 21-year-old woman--who the Athens Banner-Herald was not identifying because she is an alleged rape victim--was arrested outside her ex-girlfriend's place of employment early Tuesday morning. Police say she used her car to block another vehicle, in which her ex-girlfriend was either the driver or passenger, to prevent it from leaving. A search of the woman's car turned up a .357-caliber revolver concealed beneath clothing on the front seat, according to police. During questioning, the woman said she planned to shoot herself in front of her former lover, who ended their relationship a week earlier, police said. The woman told officers she was in therapy for suicidal thoughts she'd been having since the alleged rape. In October, prosecutors filed notice that they planned to seek extra prison time under the state's hate-crimes law in the case of Derrick McGriff, the former deputy who the Athens woman claimed raped her after they met in an Athens restaurant on June 9. She alleges the then-deputy forced her at gunpoint to her apartment, where he raped her after making threats and derogatory references to her being a lesbian. McGriff, 25, was suspended and then resigned from the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Department following his arrest. He is free on $100,000 bond and under house arrest at the home of his parents in Hawkinsville. His defense attorneys have said the alleged victim made up the story to conceal from her lover that she had consensual sex with a man. McGriff was indicted on August 6 on charges of rape, false imprisonment, aggravated assault with intent to rape, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and violation of oath of office. His trial is yet to be scheduled.