{"id":83201,"date":"2024-06-21T17:49:36","date_gmt":"2024-06-21T17:49:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2024\/06\/21\/navy-captain-convicted-for-ex-girlfriend-cyberstalking-and-id-theft\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:52:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:52:13","slug":"navy-captain-convicted-for-ex-girlfriend-cyberstalking-and-id-theft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2024\/06\/21\/navy-captain-convicted-for-ex-girlfriend-cyberstalking-and-id-theft\/","title":{"rendered":"Navy captain convicted for ex-girlfriend cyberstalking and ID theft"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A former Navy ship captain was convicted last week of cyberstalking and stealing his ex-girlfriend\u2019s identity to create explicit online content, according to the U.S. Justice Department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During a four-day federal trial in San Diego, prosecutors presented evidence that Capt. Theodore E. Essenfeld, 52, created fake Facebook, LinkedIn, email and cell phone accounts using the woman\u2019s name, photographs and personal information without her consent or knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPosing as the victim, Essenfeld posted erotic and sexually explicit content to the Facebook account, as well as graphic media files,\u201d the Justice Department said in a statement announcing the June 14 conviction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prosecutors presented evidence showing that Essenfeld joined Facebook dating groups using the bogus account and interacted with other users while pretending to be the woman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The captain also followed and engaged with social media accounts belonging to the woman\u2019s prospective employers, according to the feds.<\/p>\n\n\n\t