TV actress files lawsuit against Rodman

Danette Goulet

NEWPORT BEACH -- Actress Tina New filed a $10-million civil lawsuit

Monday alleging that former basketball star Dennis Rodman sexually

assaulted her in his Newport Beach home last year.

New, a mother of two, first splashed into the media limelight in

January when she told police that her ex-boyfriend, Eric Bechler,

admitted to her that he murdered his wife, Pegye. New is the

prosecution’s star witness in Bechler’s murder trial, which is scheduled

to begin Sept. 25.

In New’s lawsuit filed this week, she charges that she was taken

against her will to Rodman’s West Newport home Aug. 20, 1999. The lawsuit

accuses Rodman of drugging and raping New.

“Defendant Rodman was completely naked and attempted to kiss

plaintiff,� the lawsuit alleges. “... After unsuccessfully attempting to

kiss plaintiff, defendant Rodman then grabbed the plaintiff by her hips

and legs, ripped the clothing off plaintiff and began physically throwing

her around.�

Rodman and his attorney could not be reached for comment, but Newport

Beach Police Sgt. Mike McDermott said Rodman denied ever meeting New when

interviewed by police.

In a police report filed 10 days after the incident, New said she

first met Rodman at the Buzz on the Beach, a Newport Beach nightclub

where she was with friends.

Stephen Tornay, New’s attorney, said it was not until 10 days after

the incident that she called a crisis hotline and was convinced by

counselors to go to the police.

“After the event occurred, she was distraught and ill with a fever of

103 [degrees] and laid up at home,� Tornay said. “She was overwhelmed and

not sure what to do.�

No criminal charges were ever filed. The 10-day delay in reporting the

alleged crime made it impossible for police to attempt to collect

physical evidence, McDermott said.

The civil lawsuit, however, details New’s accounts of that evening.

After what is described as a short but friendly conversation, New and

Rodman parted ways, according to the lawsuit. When the club closed at 2

a.m., New alleges that she was approached by a man who identified himself

as Rodman’s bodyguard, grabbed her by the arm and forced her into a car

that Rodman was driving.

She charges that she was taken against her will to a party at Rodman’s

house, where she was offered two “shots� of liquid. After she had the

drinks, she then felt disoriented and sleepy and was led to a bedroom by

Rodman where she slept until about 5 a.m., according to the police

report. New told police that she believed the drinks were drugged.

When she awoke at 5 a.m., New alleges, Rodman was at the end of the

bed and the assault followed.

“He continuously threw the plaintiff around into different sexual

positions, grabbing her all over her body in an extremely rough and

hurtful manner,� the lawsuit reads.

Following the alleged assault, New went back to sleep for several

hours, but woke in the early morning. She went back to sleep until early

afternoon, when she finally got out of bed and called for a ride,

according to the police report.