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Roethlisberger accuser says callers hounding her
Cites upsurge after filing sex-assault suit
Friday, August 07, 2009

Law officers in Nevada are looking into harassing phone calls received by the woman who has accused Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of sexually assaulting her last year in a Lake Tahoe, Nev., hotel.

Sgt. James Halsey, of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office in Minden, Nev., said the woman complained about receiving "well over one hundred" annoying and harassing telephone messages since filing her civil lawsuit July 21 against Roethlisberger and eight employees of the Harrah's Lake Tahoe.

The woman said most of the calls were crude, with some callers insulting her and others threatening her. All the calls, she said, were from men, except one.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a policy of not naming alleged victims of sexual assault.

Police said the woman does not have caller ID, but that they were able to track two of the phone numbers -- one in Miami and one in Pittsburgh. A deputy called both numbers but did not reach anyone.

The woman, whose phone number was listed, said she did not want the callers prosecuted, but that she wanted the calls to stop. She also said she would get an unlisted phone number.

In January, Roethlisberger's accuser told the Douglas County Sheriff's Office that she was receiving harassing phone calls from a man she had met at a Reno hospital. In his report regarding the complaint, Deputy John A. Meyer said he contacted the caller and advised him to stop calling and that if he didn't he would be subject to criminal harassment charges.

The calls then stopped.

The lawsuit against Roethlisberger remains on hold until his attorneys respond to the initial filing. They have 20 days to respond, but it is common for defendants in such cases to request -- and be granted -- additional time.

Last week, a Nevada judge granted the accuser's request for a jury trial.

Dan Majors can be reached at dmajors@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1456.
First published on August 7, 2009 at 12:00 am