A Pennsylvania has been charged with doctoring photos and a video of her daughter’s cheerleading rivals in an effort to have them kicked off the squad.
Raffaela Spone, 50, was charged by the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office last week with three misdemeanor counts of cyber harassment of a child and related offenses.
Spone allegedly manipulated photos from social media of three girls on Victory Vipers cheerleading squad in Chalfont to make it appear they were drinking, smoking and some cases nude.
Spone also sent messages with the fake pictures to the girls and suggested they kill themselves.
Robert Birch, Spone’s attorney, told WPVI-TV that he couldn’t comment on the case because the DA hasn’t presented any evidence.
“She has absolutely denied what they’re charging her with and because of the fact that this has hit the press, she has received death threats. She has had to go to the police herself, they have a report,” Birch said. “Her life has been turned upside down.”
The cheerleading squad expressed sympathy for the families involved, saying it has a strict anti-bullying policy.<
"Victory Vipers has always promoted a family environment and we are sorry for all individuals involved. We have very well-established policies, and a very strict anti-bullying policy in our program," coaches Mark McTague & Kelly Cramer said. "When this incident came to our attention last year we immediately initiated our own internal investigation and took the appropriate action at the time. This incident happened outside of our gym."
