April 12, 2016
By Paul Joseph, Paragon Communications News Director –
A relationship that began on Facebook has ended with a woman going to jail after she allegedly used another person’s identity and engaged in sexual conduct with a 16-year-old.
Deputies with the Beckham County Sheriff’s office on April 6 arrested 23-year-old Carissa Renee Cooper of Elk City after she allegedly admitted to sending and receiving explicit text messages and pictures with the juvenile, according to reports.
The investigation began March 8 when the victim’s mother contacted the Sheriff’s office and said that her son was having an inappropriate relationship with a 23-year-old woman. The mother didn’t learn of the relationship until after her son’s phone was taken away at school. The mother told officials that the woman’s name allegedly involved with her son was Tasha Brown, according to reports.
As the investigation continued, officials with the Beckham County Sheriff’s office learned that Carissa Cooper allegedly had, in fact, created a Facebook account using the identity of distant relative, according to reports.
During an interview with the victim, officials learned that he and the suspect had been in a relationship for about a month, which included texting each other sexual messages and sending each other explicit pictures.
After he told officials about his relationship with Cooper, the victim reportedly experienced suicidal thoughts and has since gone into treatment counseling.
After learning Cooper’s true identity on April 6, officials with the Beckham County Sheriff’s office conducted an interview with her. She reportedly stated that she knew the victim was only 16 and is why they never had intercourse. However, Cooper, allegedly, did admitted to sending and receiving sexually explicit text messages and pictures.
She was arrested for facilitating, encouraging, offering or soliciting sexual conduct with a minor; procuring any minor under age 18 in any child pornography or knowingly possessing, procuring, manufacturing, or causing to be sold or distributed any child pornography; and false personation.
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