GREEN BAY, Wis. - A 33-year-old woman is charged with stealing her daughter's identity to attend high school and join the cheerleading team.
Wendy Brown, of Green Bay, faces a felony identity theft charge after enrolling in Ashwaubenon High School as her 15-year-old daughter, who lives in Nevada with Brown's mother.
"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," according to the complaint.
She allegedly attended cheerleading practices before school started, received a cheerleader's locker and went to a pool party at the cheerleading coach's house.
A high school employee, Kim Demeny, told authorities that the woman, posing at the teen, seemed very timid, told her she was not good in math and even cried when she talked about moving from Pahrump Valley High School in Pahrump, Nev. Although she looked older than a student, Demeny said she believed her demeanor was consistent with that of a high school girl.
A school liaison officer started investigating Monday after Brown only showed up for the first day of classes last week, the complaint said.
Assistant Principal Dirk Ribbins later learned Brown's daughter was enrolled at Pahrump Valley High School. Ribbins also spoke with Brown's mother who told him she had custody of the girl. She also said Brown has a history of identity theft crimes, the complaint said.
The complaint also said the $134.50 check Brown gave to the cheerleading coach for her uniform bounced.
Brown made her first court appearance Friday by video-conference. The judge set bond at $8,000.
If convicted, she could face up to six years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
There was no attorney listed in Brown's online court records. Her home number could not be found.