Ex-Toledo woman indicted for perjury; arrest warrant issued

1/25/2014

A former Toledo woman who changed her story under oath on the witness stand Thursday was indicted Friday for perjury.

Peggy Monroe, 33, of Aurora, Colo., agreed to testify in Lucas County Common Pleas Court about an incident in 2003 in which her young son was injured despite warnings that she could be slapped with the third-degree felony if she did. The charge carries a possible prison sentence of nine to 36 months.

Ms. Monroe was called as a defense witness in the aggravated murder case of Amanda Bacon, 26, of 504 W. Alexis Rd., who is accused of throwing her 6-month-old son against a hard surface, causing injuries that led to his death in December, 2012.

Defense attorneys for Ms. Bacon plan to argue that it was the man with whom Ms. Bacon was living who killed her son, and they brought Ms. Monroe to Toledo to testify that the same man hurt her child when she was living with him 10 years ago.

At the hearing, Ms. Monroe admitted she signed a notarized statement in 2003 that told a different story about how her son was injured, but she insisted that statement was a lie. Prosecutors said she either lied on the stand or lied in the sworn statement, and they take that seriously.

“We’re in a search for the truth. That is our job — not to convict, not to win,” said Lucas County Prosecutor Julia Bates said. “Someone who intentionally thwarts that search is doing a great disservice not only to us but to the community at large.”

Ms. Bacon is scheduled to go to trial Feb. 21. Judge Frederick McDonald must first decide whether Ms. Monroe may be called as a witness to testify about the 2003 incident.

Defense attorney Jane Roman said Ms. Monroe flew back to Colorado on Friday morning before the indictment was returned.

“She was very adamant that this is what needed to be done, and she didn’t want to see what happened to her happen to anyone else,” Ms. Roman said. “She risked a lot coming here.”

A warrant has been issued for Ms. Monroe’s arrest.