Woman faces identity theft charges after creating fake Facebook profile about ex-boyfriend

Posted: Wednesday, October 26, 2011 6:57 am

ASSOCIATED PRESS |

MORRISTOWN (AP) - Lawyers for a New Jersey woman say the state's identity theft law doesn't apply to allegations that she created a fake Facebook profile about her ex-boyfriend.

Forty-one-year-old Dana Thornton faces up to 18 months in prison if convicted.

Authorities allege the Belleville resident created a Facebook page as if it was written by her former boyfriend, Parsippany police Detective Michael Lasalandra, after they broke up.

The Daily Record of Parsippany (http://dailyre.co/uPQyqW ) reports Thornton's lawyer, Richard Roberts, claims while his client may have violated Facebook rules, there's no law in New Jersey against creating a profile of anyone online.

Morris County prosecutors say even though the ID theft law doesn't mention the Internet, Thornton's action harmed her ex-boyfriend's reputation.

Lasalandra declined comment. A hearing is scheduled for Nov. 2.