LEBANON — Less than a decade ago, Nikki Gilmore was a standout basketball player at Southern Illinois University.

        Thursday, she became a convicted felon, facing up to 15 years in an Ohio prison. A Warren County judge found her guilty of twice making up reports that she was raped and of planting threatening notes, condoms and other items at her residence.

        After four days of listening to testimony from more than a dozen witnesses, viewing hours of surveillance tapes and listening to recorded statements from Ms. Gilmore, Common Pleas Judge P. Daniel Fedders convicted the 28-year-old Mason woman of two misdemeanor counts of counts of falsification and three felony counts of tampering with evidence. He dismissed 12 other counts of tampering.

        Ms. Gilmore sat back in her chair showing little emotion as Judge Fedders announced his verdict. She declined comment after the trial on the advice of her attorney, Kenneth Lawson, who indicated he would appeal.

        In an interview before the verdict Thursday, Ms. Gilmore insisted that the attacks she alleged Sept. 18 and Nov. 9, 2000, did occur. She denied she planted any threatening notes or condoms stained with red food coloring — allegedly from her attackers — at the Lofton Court residence where she lived with Al and Carol Malich and their children. The Malichs had taken Ms. Gilmore in two years ago after they met her through an athletic ministry called Athletes in Action.

        “It wouldn't be so bizarre if Mason police would have done what they were supposed to do,” Ms. Gilmore said. “They treated me like I was O.J. Simpson or something.”

        Testimony from a detective at Southern Illinois University indicated Ms. Gilmore had claimed in 1993 that she had been attacked by two men, but later confessed she made up the story to get the attention of her coach.

        Mr. Lawson said he thought police went to extremes to prosecute Ms. Gilmore.

        “The question really becomes, "Do we try to help her, or do we sit back and continue to set her up?'” he said.

        Mr. Lawson said he hopes Judge Fedders will order treatment instead of prison when he sentences Ms. Gilmore in about 30 days.

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