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Kim speaks again ...

http://www.newsobserver.com/122/story/438314.html

Published: May 11, 2006 12:30 AM
Modified: May 11, 2006 03:01 AM

'Weird evening' was just the start
'2nd dancer' tells of life since party

Kim Roberts has faced a public storm.

Joseph Neff, Staff Writer
DURHAM - When Kim Roberts drove off from Kroger in the early hours of March 14, she wrote off the evening as an odd episode in her job as an escort service dancer.

She and another dancer had given an abortive performance at a Duke lacrosse party; players hurled racial slurs at her as she left; her fellow dancer passed out in her car, so impaired that police had to pry the woman out.

"I just thought it was a weird evening," Roberts said. "And it was over."

(snip)

Besides the accuser and the players, Roberts was the only witness inside 610 N. Buchanan Blvd. She did not witness an assault; she was outside when investigators say the players raped the other dancer in a bathroom. She spoke briefly about events in the house before clamming up at the advice of lawyers. She said she will tell all in court, under oath.

"I am so ready for the trial," she said.

(snip)

Roberts took a job as a payroll specialist at Qualex, a photo-processing company. There, she embezzled $25,000.

Roberts said she doesn't know why she did it. Her job paid well and she wasn't under financial stress, nor was she using drugs, drinking or gambling.

"Maybe it was a thrill of having a secret," she said. "That's a little bit of the thrill of being a dancer as well."

(snip)

Roberts showed up on time and collected her $400. The players told her they had requested a white dancer and a Hispanic dancer, and assumed Roberts was Hispanic. The other dancer, who is black, showed up a half-hour later. Defense lawyers have said the accuser showed up impaired, a claim Roberts disputed.

"I didn't think she was drunk at the time," Roberts said.

(snip)

Roberts told Newsweek that players gave them mixed drinks. She did not drink hers; the other dancer drank half her glass, spilled it and then drank all of Roberts' drink. "She started stumbling," Roberts said. "When I think back on it, she had a glassy look in her eye."

(snip)

Roberts said she couldn't get the other dancer's phone number or address. She talked with the accuser's escort service, but it was of no help, she said. She drove to the 24-hour Kroger, where a security guard suggested calling police. The police tried smelling salts before dragging the unconscious dancer from the car.

Because there was a warrant for her arrest, Roberts told police she picked up the woman on the road, in a crowd of men yelling racial slurs. Police did not ask her name, and Roberts went home.

A week later, Roberts' escort agency told her police wanted to talk to her about a possible rape. After she gave a statement, police arrested her for the probation violation.

A bail bondsman put up the $25,000 secured bond on the condition she pay a 15 percent nonrefundable fee. Roberts paid half, $1,875, and promised to pay the rest later, her attorney said.

Williams contacted

As the national media seized on the story, Roberts called James "Butch" Williams Jr., who told her he represented a player and couldn't advise or represent her. When Williams asked whether she thought a rape occurred that night, Roberts said no. When Williams asked her to give a sworn statement, Roberts said she would sleep on it.

Several days of discussion ended when Williams brought up pictures taken of the dancers at the party, Roberts said.

"He kept mentioning my statement and the pictures in the same breath," Roberts said. "What are you trying to say, Butch? Are you trying to say if I don't sign my statement there will be pictures? And that's when I said, 'You have the opportunity to tear me apart in court,' and that's when he said, 'I can tear you apart right now.' "

Roberts said she told Williams she'd call police and hung up.

"That did not occur," Williams said. "Never. My dealings were straightforward with her. She got upset about the pictures and totally shut down."

(snip)