Mom institutionalized for identity theft

GREEN BAY, Wis., Jan. 14 (UPI) -- A 34-year-old Wisconsin woman will spend up to three years in a mental institution for stealing her teenage daughter's identity, a judge says.

A judge in Brown County, Wis., ruled this week Wendy Brown should be institutionalized for assuming her 15-year-old daughter's identity to attend Ashwaubenon High School and try out for the cheerleading squad, the Green Bay (Wis.) Press-Gazette said Wednesday.

Brown was found innocent by reason of mental disease or defect on a related identity theft charge last month. A psychiatrist recommended to Brown County Circuit Judge Sue Bischel that Brown by institutionalized to undergo treatment.

Bischel said in her ruling Tuesday the institution would offer Brown "intensive counseling and treatment that she's not going to get at the Brown County Jail and would have a difficult time getting in the community."

Meanwhile, the Press-Gazette said Brown was apologetic for her one-day high school visit last August.

"I just made a mistake," she told the court.