Friendswood police say a woman faces online harassment charges for posting a bogus job opening on Craig’s List, setting up her former boss to deal with a flood of calls.
Amanda Anderson, 33, of Houston was charged with the third-degree felony under a Texas law that went into effect Sept. 1.
Friendswood police say the unauthorized ad listed made-up employment opportunities with Anderson’s former employer, an insurance company located in Friendswood. The ad was for skilled laborers such as plumbers, electricians and roofers.
The employer told police that he had not authorized a help-wanted ad and was being inundated with calls from job-seekers.
Police said Anderson would not cooperate with investigators in the case, and the Galveston County District Attorney proceeded with the charges of online harassment.
Anderson turned herself into the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office on February 8, police said. She was released upon posting a $5,000 bond.
Under the new section of Texas Penal Code 33.07, it is a crime to . . .
“use the name or persona of another to create a web page on or to post one or more messages on a commercial social networking site: (1) without obtaining the other person’s consent; and (2) with the intent to harm, defraud, intimidate, or threaten any person. A person commits an offense if the person sends an electronic mail, instant message, text message, or similar communication that references a name, domain address, phone number, or other item of identifying information belonging to any person: (1) without obtaining the other person’s consent; (2) with the intent to cause a recipient of the communication to reasonably believe that the other person authorized or transmitted the communication.”
via houston chronicle dot com
