A former U.S. Navy captain convicted of cyberstalking and identity theft for posing as his ex-girlfriend online and posting photographs of her received a three-year federal sentence Friday.
Theodore E. Essenfeld, the former commanding officer of the San Diego-based USS Pearl Harbor, was convicted by a San Diego federal jury in June of impersonating the victim on social media and posting photos she had privately shared with him during their relationship.
He did so, prosecutors said, without her knowledge or consent.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office alleged that in order to make the fake accounts appear authentic, Essenfeld, 53, included the victim’s true name on the social media accounts, as well as other genuine information like her hometown, educational background and work history.
Over the course of 15 months, Essenfeld created a fake Facebook account and posed as the victim in Facebook dating groups. On a LinkedIn account created under her name, he falsely advertised that she was a professional pole dancer.
One of the fake social media pages was discovered by a relative of the victim, prompting the investigation into Essenfeld.
According to the prosecution’s sentencing papers, “Essenfeld’s goal (was) to punish and hurt (the victim) for their breakup.” U.S. District Judge Robert Huie sentenced Essenfeld on Friday to 37 months in prison.
Along with commanding the USS Pearl Harbor as part of his 34-year Naval career, he was “weeks away” from taking command of the USS San Diego when he was arrested, according to a sentencing memorandum from his defense attorney, Kerry Armstrong.
