BRIEF: Top Cop Has Identity Stolen

By Steve E. Swenson, The Bakersfield Californian

Oct. 30--Identity theft can strike anyone, even one of the city's top cops.

Assistant Police Chief Bryan Lynn was one of several people who had their identities stolen by a 34-year-old Bakersfield man, according to police. The suspect, Jason Marzonie, is facing charges of forgery and identity theft crimes.

Police say Marzonie broke into Lynn's home on July 26 and within three weeks set up a PayPal account in Lynn's name.

In the burglary, Marzonie is believed to have obtained documents with Lynn's social security number, Detective Mary DeGeare said.

That and other personal information about Lynn enabled Marzonie to access Lynn's bank account and commit fraudulent transactions on PayPal, she said.

Lynn declined to comment on the case.

A search warrant that led to the seizure of a computer in Marzonie's home linked him to other theft victims, DeGeare said.

Marzonie was arrested July 23 and was put in prison on a parole hold, DeGeare said.

She didn't know when the hold would end, but when it does, Marzonie will be prosecuted on a $275,000 warrant alleging several forgery and identity theft crimes.

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