An attorney accused of hacking into the private bank account of her husband’s ex-wife has been acquitted on all charges.The attorney, local resident Christina Stanford, was found not guilty by Judge Paul Summers on the Class D felony of identity theft. The bench trial, in which the judge serves as judge and jury, lasted a day and featured testimony from the alleged victim, Jamie Stanford, the defendant, and three employees from Ascend Credit Union where the hacking allegedly took place.In bringing the indictments, Manchester police investigator Billy Butler said the defendant posed as her husband’s ex-wife, Jamie Stanford, to get a look inside an account jointly held between her husband, Chris Stanford, and his ex-wife.However, Christina Stanford said the whole thing was a case of animosity held toward her by the ex-wife, noting Jamie Stanford allegedly tried to get her indicted in Putnam and Warren counties but was unsuccessful before getting the case prosecuted in Coffee County. Christina and Chris Stanford operate their law practice in Coffee County.Christina Stanford told the Standard the incident happened in 2012 and it involved her simply trying to pay off the balance on a car that was being paid for from the joint account.
Local attorney acquitted after one-day bench trail