'Rock Star' Sex Scam Suspect Acquitted

The 42-year-old Elgin, Illinois man who pretended to be a rock star to sleep with women was "immoral" and "completely reprehensible" but not guilty of rape, a 16th Circuit Court judge decided.

According to testimony at his sexual assault trial, Bruce Rumery paid for a newspaper advertisement in July 2001 looking for an assistant for the rock band CREED. When women responded to the ad, Rumery propositioned sex as part of an interview for a $200,000-a-year job.

Authorities said Rumery would make the women believe they were having sex with Scott Stapp, leader singer of CREED.

Rumery was charged after one woman came forward, claiming he gagged her with a pillow, threw her to the bed and forced her to have sex.

Rumery's attorneys, Tim Mahoney and Thomas Brosnan, said the sex was consensual and the gagging was part of a game.

Judge Donald Hudson said it was testimony of one officer in particular that caused doubts about the woman's allegation. Elgin Police Detective Bill Wolf said at one point during an interview the victim told him she made up the tale.

"It is the first time that I can recall that a police officer ... testified that the alleged victim told the police that she had made up the story about the allegations because she had been upset," Hudson said Wednesday (June 4) in making his ruling.

Testimony also focused on phone calls the woman made after the incident. In addition to calling Rumery the day after, she called a family baby sitter and said the interview "went really well."

Kane County Assistant State's Attorney Greg Sams said no other charges are being brought against Rumery in the incident.

Mahoney said Rumery was happy with the ruling.

"I think he understands his conduct creates a lot of problems," Mahoney said.