Fake MySpace profile investigated for libel
Vanessa Miller, Daily Camera
Published November 11, 2006 at midnight
Boulder County sheriff's detectives demanded records from MySpace.com after a Superior woman reported finding pictures of herself on the Web site under a fake profile named "Dirty Whore."
Rachel Leah Lynn, 28, called the sheriff's office last month after her husband learned from a co-worker that three pictures of his wife had been posted under a vulgar profile on the social networking site, according to a Boulder County District Court order for the MySpace records released Thursday.
Lynn told police the site contained photos taken from her legitimate MySpace profile and personal "blurbs" claiming she's interested in meeting "men, women and/or couples who are looking to have a fun time."
MySpace officials have provided the court-ordered records to sheriff's Detective Mike Wagner, who's investigating the criminal libel case.
If detectives identify the person who created the page, he or she could face felony libel charges punishable by up to 1 1/2 years in prison and a $100,000 fine, Wagner said.
Detectives have requested additional records from another Internet service provider, but Wagner wouldn't give that company's name.
Officers are in the early stages of the investigation, but Wagner said "there are suspicions" of who posted the pictures. He wouldn't specify where the suspect lives or give details of the person's identity.
Lynn said she didn't want to comment about the case while it's under investigation, but she said it worries her and her husband.
According to court documents, Lynn learned of the false page, which listed her correct age and hometown, on Oct. 9. The profile said she was single, bisexual and on the Web site for dating purposes.
At the time officers began investigating the page, the profile's user had collected 138 virtual friends.
Lynn deleted her real MySpace page after discovering the libelous profile, according to court records.
Last week, a Broomfield man accused of posing as his former fiancee in an online ad soliciting a one-night stand was sentenced to three years of probation.
That ad was posted on Craigslist.org.
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