DMACC Student Arrested for Harassment Through Myspace

On December 14, ISU Police arrested Courtney Savoy, age 20, on one count (each) of Transmission of Unsolicited Bulk Electronic Mail (an aggravated misdemeanor), Exhibiting Persons by sending sexually explicit pictures of Brittney Overstreet without her permission (a serious misdemeanor), and Harassment (a simple misdemeanor).

Courtney Savoy, A student at Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, allegedly created a Web page under Brittany Overstreet's name on MySpace.com, and sent offensive comments to other students.

On November 30, 2006, Brittany Overstreet, age 19, reported that she had received harassing emails. She also reported that someone was impersonating her on Myspace under a fake account and was using that profile to send derogatory messages to others. Savoy also sent sexually explicit pictures of Brittany Overstreet to ISU students that she received from Overstreet's ex-boyfriend.

Overstreet, a sophomore communications student at Iowa State University, won the Miss Black and Gold Scholarship Pageant on November 30, 2006. The Miss Black and Gold Scholarship Pageant is a national contest sponsored by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. The night before, Savoy sent 30 emails under a false email account named Brittany_overstreet19@yahoo.com with the title "I should be the 1st miss black and gold queen" Attached, police said, was a nude photograph that featured Overstreet. The next day, Savoy sent another email with a similar message.

On December 11, ISU Police executed a search warrant at Savoy's residence where officers seized several laptop computers, including one owned by Savoy.

Savoy admitted that she was responsible for the two email messages and for creating a fake Myspace profile in Overstreet's name. Savoy created the emails and falsified account for the purpose of harassing the victim.

Savoy was released from the Story County Jail on $8,775 bond. The most serious charge carries a two-year prison term.