A Baltimore County 911 operator has been arrested on charges of stealing another operator?s identity to open shopping and bank accounts, Baltimore County police said.
Kristen Marie Troxel, 28, of Westminster, was arrested Wednesday at the 911 call center in the Baltimore County Circuit Court building in Towson. She was released on her own recognizance the same day.
She faces two counts of fraud per identity information theft, each of which carries a maximum penalty of 18 months in jail and a $5,000 fine.
According to charging documents, Troxel stole the identity of fellow employee Amber Leatherwood in 2005 by opening a Fingerhut shopping account and HSBC bank account using Leatherwood?s identity.
Troxel created debts totaling $812 using Leatherwood?s name, police said.
Leatherwood told police she received a text message from Troxel admitting to the crime after Leatherwood filed an identity theft report with Baltimore County police.
“I did it, but I was going to pay it,” the text message reportedly said.
Troxel could not be reached for comment.
Baltimore County government spokesman Don Mohler said he couldn?t say whether Troxel was still employed by the county, because the issue is a personnel matter.
Troxel?s trial date is scheduled for July 16 at Baltimore County District Court in Towson.
