WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Wanna-Be Yale Student Delivers Anonymous Letter, Pictures to Court (New Haven-WTNH) _ Another bizarre twist in the case of a woman charged with cheating her way into Yale University. And what went on outside the courthouse isn't the strangest part. Tonica Jenkins was first arrested in late 1997 for forging her records to gain entry into Yale's prestigious and rigorous neurobiology program. The case has taken several unexpected twists and turns, and now a bombshell in the courtroom was followed by exploding tempers outside. News Channel 8's Ned Berkowitz has been following the case and here's the latest. Quite a show outside new haven superior court this afternoon after attorney Norm Pattis tried to block camera crews from photographing his client, Tonica Jenkins, who was screaming expletives at the cameras. Jenkins is accused of forging her credentials to get into Yale, then was declared a fugitive after missing a court appearance, claiming she had been abducted and raped. Jenkins was expected to accept a plea deal today that would have kept her out of jail. Norm Pattis, Jenkins' Attorney: "Miss Jenkins understands she has a good deal. This new evidence needs to be explored so I asked for time to explore it." That new evidence is an anonymous letter, apparently on Yale letterhead, along with some shocking photos. Ned: "In court though you said she was bound and gagged..." Pattis: "The photographs depict her with a gag in her mouth, yes." Her parents declined to comment on the case. The question now is this latest development just one more lie? Ned: "Any chance that your client could be behind these photos?" Pattis: "I don't believe so. Certainly that's what many in the courthouse believed but for her to have done so would mean... no I just don't believe so. There are facts about them - it would make it almost impossible." But even Pattis concedes this is one strange case. Pattis: "I think that life is often very bizarre and this case is true to life." Pattis declined to share the letter or photos with News Channel 8, but he says he hopes anyone who might know where they came from will come forward. In a statement released late in the day, Yale denied any inappropriate action in the case. Jenkins, who could face up to 50 years in prison, is due back in court one week from today. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Wanna-Be Yale Student Delivers Anonymous Letter, Pictures to Court
(New Haven-WTNH) _ Another bizarre twist in the case of a woman charged with cheating her way into Yale University. And what went on outside the courthouse isn't the strangest part. Tonica Jenkins was first arrested in late 1997 for forging her records to gain entry into Yale's prestigious and rigorous neurobiology program. The case has taken several unexpected twists and turns, and now a bombshell in the courtroom was followed by exploding tempers outside.
News Channel 8's Ned Berkowitz has been following the case and here's the latest.

Quite a show outside new haven superior court this afternoon after attorney Norm Pattis tried to block camera crews from photographing his client, Tonica Jenkins, who was screaming expletives at the cameras.

Jenkins is accused of forging her credentials to get into Yale, then was declared a fugitive after missing a court appearance, claiming she had been abducted and raped. Jenkins was expected to accept a plea deal today that would have kept her out of jail.

Norm Pattis, Jenkins' Attorney: "Miss Jenkins understands she has a good deal. This new evidence needs to be explored so I asked for time to explore it."

That new evidence is an anonymous letter, apparently on Yale letterhead, along with some shocking photos.

Ned: "In court though you said she was bound and gagged..."
Pattis: "The photographs depict her with a gag in her mouth, yes."

Her parents declined to comment on the case. The question now is this latest development just one more lie?

Ned: "Any chance that your client could be behind these photos?"
Pattis: "I don't believe so. Certainly that's what many in the courthouse believed but for her to have done so would mean... no I just don't believe so. There are facts about them - it would make it almost impossible."

But even Pattis concedes this is one strange case.

Pattis: "I think that life is often very bizarre and this case is true to life."

Pattis declined to share the letter or photos with News Channel 8, but he says he hopes anyone who might know where they came from will come forward.

In a statement released late in the day, Yale denied any inappropriate action in the case. Jenkins, who could face up to 50 years in prison, is due back in court one week from today.

Today's News Page.

WTNH Home Page.