A 31-year-old Texas woman posed as a 15-year-old high school student for 6 months before her true age was revealed.
Police say Charity Anne Johnson was living on the streets when a friend took her in and enrolled her at a private religious high school in Longview.
The friend, Tamice Lincoln and her boyfriend eventually suspected Johnson was using a fake identity. Lincoln said she called the police and went straight to the school.
KLTV.com reports Johnson was arrested for failing to give her correct identity and giving false, fictitious information.
Teachers and students who befriended Johnson broke down in tears when they heard the news.
“Teachers were crying and students were crying, and her best friend just couldn’t believe it,” said Lincoln.
Lincoln said Charity told her she was 15 and needed a place to stay. “I sympathized with her, and invited her into my home. I took her in as a child, did her hair, got her clothes and shoes.”
Lincoln said Charity told her she was abused by her father who has since passed away. Charity told Lincoln her mother was also deceased.
“I just don’t know why she did it. Why put yourself and others at risk to do something like this?” Lincoln said. “I have deep concerns about her being who we don’t know she is, and then she’s out there at the school.”
A spokesperson for the school said Johnson had been a student there since October 2013. The school sent letters home to parents explaining the situation.
Longview said she is seeking information on the woman she invited into her home under false pretenses.
“I’ve reached out to four different women off of Facebook that she has contacted. Florida, here in Longview, Minnesota.”
“None of those people want any further contact with Charity. They tell us that they hope she has time in jail to think about the pain she caused with her lies.”
