An ISU student was charged Tuesday with filing a false sexual assault report to the Department of Public Safety – and she said she never envisioned the affects her actions would have.

Katharine Robb, 19, of 2239 Knapp St., could face up to a year in the county jail, a $1,500 fine or both, said County Attorney Steve Holmes.

Robb, sophomore in journalism and mass communications, said her claim that she was abducted and raped by four black men was not racially motivated.

“I’m not trying to offend anyone, single out a group or anything,” she said. “. it’s not a race issue at all.”

Robb, a member of Kappa Alpha Theta, said she cannot discuss her reasons for filing the report.

“At this time, I can’t really say much about the specifics of the case, because I haven’t been sentenced, been to court or anything,” she said.

Filing a false report with a public safety agency is a serious misdemeanor under state law, said Gene Deisinger, with the special operations unit for DPS.

“In consultation with the county attorney’s office, we decided it was clear that a crime had occurred and that we would file charges,” Deisinger said.

Robb turned herself in to DPS officials. She was released on her promise to appear in Story County Court, where she will make her initial appearance Sept. 14.

Holmes said Robb will go through the regular stages of a criminal charge.

“We’ll do like we do on all criminal cases – take a look at the evidence . and try to fashion out something that is both good for the community and good for the person who was charged,” he said.

Robb initially reported she was abducted and sexually assaulted Aug. 28. She admitted her report was false Aug. 30, after DPS officials determined her claim was untrue.

Robb said she didn’t think her report would result in campus-wide concern.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I take responsibility . I didn’t mean to get everyone in this mess.”