Montgomery accuser back in court

HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) - The woman charged with felony perjury for making up a sexual assault that wrongly imprisoned a Hampton man waived her right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday.

In court, Elizabeth Coast seemed unaffected by the serious situation she created four years ago, when she told a Hampton court Johnathon Montgomery sexually assaulted her outside her grandmother's house.

Coast went into great detail, testifying she was 10 years old and Montgomery was 14 years old at the time of the alleged assault.

The governor pardoned Montgomery after 10 On Your Side contacted his office about the case.

Coast admitted guilt, but has never offered an apology. WAVY.com gave her ample opportunity to do so outside court Tuesday, but she did not comment.

Previously, Coast told investigators her parents caught her looking at pornography in 2007, so she made up the sexual assault to explain herself. Montgomery had moved away and Coast didn't think police would ever find him.

Coast was scheduled for the hearing Tuesday but instead waived that right and a trial date was set for May.

Hopewell Commonwealth's Attorney Richard Newman is the special prosecutor assigned to the case because the Hampton Commonwealth's Attorney has a conflict of interest.

Coast also has a new attorney, because her previous representation also had a conflict of interest.