http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/news...sentenced.html
Mother who posed as teenage daughter to become cheerleader sentenced
A 34-year-old woman who used her daughter's name to enrol in high school and try out for the cheerleading squad has been committed to a psychiatric unit for three years.
Last Updated: 8:34PM GMT 14 Jan 2009
Mother who posed as teenage daughter to become cheerleader sentenced
Wendy Brown attended classes and cheerleading practice at Ashwaubenon High School, Wisconsin Photo: PA
Wendy Brown attended classes and cheerleading practice at Ashwaubenon High School, Wisconsin, posing successfully as her 15-year-old daughter, who lives with her grandmother in Nevada.
She was even given a cheerleader's locker and went to a pool party at the cheerleading coach's house, according to the court complaint filed against her.
Although she looked older than other students, school staff members told authorities Brown initially did not arouse suspicion because she head the demeanour of a teenager.
She appeared timid, said she was not good at maths and became upset when she talked about moving from Nevada to Wisconsin.
But after she began missing classes last August, a truancy officer investigated Brown. Her real identity was revealed when she was found in jail being held on an unrelated fraud case.
According to court documents, Brown used her daughter's birth certificate and social security number to enrol at the school and listed her own name as the mother. A $134.50 cheque she gave to the cheerleading coach for her uniform bounced.
Authorities discovered Brown's daughter was attending a school in Nevada. They spoke to Brown's mother who told them about her daughter's history of fraud, including past convictions for deceptive practices, obstructing an officer and burglary.
According to the court complaint, "The defendant stated she wanted to get her high school degree and be a cheerleader because she had no childhood and was trying to regain a part of her life she missed."
Brown, who was found not guilty by reason of mental impairment to a charge of identity theft, apologised in court, saying, "I'm not a bad person. I just made a mistake."
She was also sentenced to three years probation for a separate scam in which she pretended to be a landlord and collected more than $750 in rent.
Sue Bischel, the judge in the case, told the court that Brown had "a long standing history of significant and serious emotional problems".
Police said they were not surprised Brown was able to successfully pose as her daughter, given her history.
"Ms Brown's criminal history says she's been involved in fraud and deceptive practices across the country for most of her adult life," Lt Jody Crocker, an Ashwaubenon Public Safety officer, told CBS News after Brown was charged. "It comes to no surprise to us that she was able to pull something like this off."
