Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, April 24, 1993                   TAG: 9304240102
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By LAURENCE HAMMACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

WOMAN FILES CHARGES AGAINST GUNS N' ROSES CREW

The 19-year-old gave a sworn statement to a magistrate about 1:30 a.m. Friday, one week after she says she was partially stripped and fondled during a "meet and greet" session with the band following its Roanoke concert.

Roanoke police confirmed that assault warrants have been issued against two California men, but declined to identify them because no arrests had been made.

The men are not members of the band, but travel with the rock and roll group as personal assistants.

It was uncertain Friday how Although the woman had sought charges of sexual assault, the warrants accused the men of simple assault and battery. long it would take before the case is brought to court - or even if the men would be prosecuted at all.

The band is touring in Mexico. If the suspects decide to fight extradition once they are served with warrants in California, it could lead to a lengthy and expensive process that authorities seldom conduct for misdemeanor charges such as assault and battery.

"Right now, I feel like it's hopeless," the woman said Friday.

After she was invited backstage to meet the band, the woman told a magistrate, one of the men pulled down her blouse and rubbed ice on her breasts. The other yanked up the bottom of her outfit, she said.

Although the woman had sought charges of sexual assault, the warrants accused the men of simple assault and battery.

"They said it couldn't be considered sexual assault," she said. "They said something about more had to be done."

The woman said she waited a week before filing charges because she was worried the news media might identify her. But she had always planned to prosecute what she believes could easily have been a more serious incident.

"They should have some sort of guard back there to know what is going on," she said. "It was just me, the band and the roadies. Anything could have happened back there."

Police said Friday they plan to consult with the commonwealth's attorney about the case.

Chief Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Betty Jo Anthony said the two defendants could voluntarily return to Roanoke to face the charges.

But if they do not, a decision would have to be made on whether to have them extradited, a complicated legal process that could take months and cost up to $5,000.

The 19-year-old, who traveled from Appomattox to see the concert at the Roanoke Civic Center last week, has said she was selected for a backstage pass after band officials used a video camera to pan the audience in search of attractive women.

Although dozens of women were given such passes, the 19-year-old said she was alone when she went into a backstage room to meet the band. Most of the band was present when she was assaulted, the woman said.

A spokesman for Guns N' Roses has denied that the band uses video surveillance to select recipients of backstage passes, but says the 19-year-old's other allegations are being investigated.

The woman said she realizes that if the case goes to court, defense attorneys are likely to mention the the sheer black lace outfit she was wearing the night of the concert.

"I don't think that is an issue," she said. "Everybody in the meet-and-greet was dressed like that."