Cuesta Hacker Gets a Year

A former Cuesta College employee accused of stealing the identities of some of her fellow workers, will serve a year in jail after pleading “no contest” to felony identity theft.
Judge Donald Umhofer sentenced Lacey Fowler, 30 of the North County to 350 days in County Jail. Fowler entered her plea on Jan. 4. In this case the identity theft involved unlawful access of computer data, according to District Attorney’s Office.
“While an employee of Cuesta College,” reads a news release from Assistant D.A. Lee Cunningham. “Fowler stole personal identifying information of current and former employees. With respect to several of the victims, Ms. Fowler opened up credit card accounts in their names.”
The victims’ credit card history “was damaged,” but Cunningham said none directly lost any money.
After she gets out of jail, Fowler will be placed on probation for 4 years, “and she must participate in residential drug treatment,” he added.
In a separate case, Chad Fowler, her husband also pled “no contest” to felony “possessing methamphetamine for sale,” and getting extra time for a “weight enhancement.” He’s expected ot get 5 years in jail for his crimes. The DA said he would be sentenced at the end of March.
The cases were investigated by the Cuesta College Police Department, and Deputy D.A. Craig Van Rooyen prosecuted the cases.