Fake Facebook page damages identity

A New Jersey woman faces 18 months in prison on identity theft charges after a judge ruled that the damning things she said about her ex-boyfriend on a social media site warranted punishment, the Los Angeles Times reports. Dana Thornton dated Michael Lasalandra for three months in 2007. It's unclear why they split, but Thornton would later attack Lasalandra's character by creating a fake Facebook page using his name. Thornton made posts under the guise, stating that Lasalandra was a "cop who used drugs, hired prostitutes and had at least one sexually transmitted disease," according to the news source. While Thornton's lawyer argues New Jersey state law doesn't specify that using electronic communication or social media as a means to steal someone's identity is illegal, Judge David Ironson believes "clear and unambiguous" damage had been done to Lasalandra's reputation. "Certainly it would damage his good name, standing or reputation if false comments and assertions about Lasalandra were circulated," said court papers, as quoted by the media outlet. The news source notes in a separate article that Facebook guidelines also state that creating a false identity is prohibited.