Police have recommended charges for U.S. Swimmers Ryan Lochte and James Feigen for falsely reporting a crime, according to ABC News. ABC initially reported that the swimmers had been indicted but they have since backed off that claim, saying that police have recommended charges. We have updated this article accordingly.
Reports that Ryan Lochte, James Feigen, Gunnar Bentz, and Jack Conger were robbed over the weekend on their way back to the Olympic village from a party first surfaced on Sunday. Authorities didn’t believe Lochte’s story and they are reportedly reccomending charges against him and Feigen who also allegedly gave false statements to police. Investigators say that the swimmers actually vandalized a gas station in Rio after they were out partying.
As we first reported earlier today, Under Special Part Title 11, Chapter 3, Article 340 of Brazil’s Penal Code, informing law enforcement of the occurrence of a crime or misdemeanor that never took place is subject to detention of one to six months or a fine. There is another clause in Brazil’s Penal Code under Special Part Title 11, Chapter 3, Article 342, which states that if you make a false statement or deny the truth as a witness in legal proceedings or in a police investigation, the penalty is imprisonment of one to three years and a fine. It is unclear at this point what they will be charged with.
Tony Iliakostas and Ronn Blizter contributed to this report.
LawNewz.com will update when we get more information.