A 31-year-old Texas woman is behind bars after police and school staff discovered the woman was impersonating a 15-year-old high school student.
Charity Anne Johnson, pictured above, was arrested at an apartment in Longview, East Texas after giving police a fake name and birthday. “Charity Stevens,” as she was called, is also the name she used to enroll in the New Life Christian School. She had been a student at the school since October 2013.
A local resident who was identified as Johnson’s guardian took the woman in after Johnson convinced her she was a child in need.
According to KLTV:
Tamica Lincoln says back in March, 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 says Charity claimed she was abused by her biological father who has since passed away, along with her biological mother. Lincoln acted as Charity’s guardian and even met with Charity’s 10th grade teachers at New Life Christian School.
“I just don’t know why she did it. Why put yourself and others at risk to do something like this?” she wonders. “I have deep concerns about her being who we don’t know she is, and then she’s out there at the school.”
After suspecting Johnson may have been lying, Lincoln and partner Paul Ward called the police and went straight to the school.
“Teachers were crying and students were crying, and her best friend just couldn’t believe it.”
School officials wouldn’t go on camera, but they say a notice about the situation will be sent home Thursday with students. Lincoln posted a picture of Charity on Facebook, and asked if anyone knew her. The response is surprising.
“I’ve reached out to four different women off of Facebook that she has contacted. Florida, here in Longview, Minnesota.”
None of the women Lincoln contacted wanted anything to do with Johnson. She remains in the Gregg County Jail on $500 bond.
SOURCE: KLTV | PHOTO CREDIT: Facebook
