Alleged rape victim admits she lied to investigators

Laura Sparks

An accused rapist and the victim have reversed roles as the victim is the one facing criminal charges after admitting to lying to investigators about the incident.

According to Laurel County Sheriff John Root, detectives began an investigation Saturday morning after Laura L. Sparks, 20, of Corbin complained that she had been sexually assaulted and went to Baptist Regional Medical Center to treatment.

The subsequent investigation by Detectives Charlie Loomis and Stacy Anderkin led to the arrest of 25-year-old Dakota Mayfield of Corbin Tuesday afternoon on charges of first-degree rape and intimidating a participant in the legal process.

However, upon further investigation and interviews with Sparks, Laurel County Sheriff’s Public Affairs Officer Gilbert Acciardo stated that detectives determined while a sexual act did occurred between Sparks and Mayfield, it was consensual.

Sparks was arrested Wednesday night on one count of falsely reporting an incident and lodged in the Laurel County Detention Center. Sparks has been released on a $1,000 cash bond.

All charges against Mayfield have been dismissed and he has been released from the detention center Wednesday afternoon.