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Victim Becomes Suspect In Louisiana NFL Referee Case

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Lt. Brennan Matherne of the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office said 49-year-old Sandra Brooks filed reports in June claiming that her boyfriend, 57-year-old Carl Johnson Sr, was hitting her. The couple were living together at the time.

After Brooke sent audio evidence of the altercations it was found that the audio recordings actually implicated Brooke and not Johnson.

Lt. Matherne says Brooks is also charged with defamation because she filed a report with Johnson’s employer, the NFL and also contacted a media outlet with these allegations.

Matherne says she wasn’t immediately a suspect and was originally thought to be the victim until implicating evidence was found. He said domestic violence is taken very seriously and is very upsetting when used falsely. He urges anyone going through any sort of domestic abuse to come forward and not fear because this instance is unique.