Woman Arrested After Snooping on Son's Rape Victim

• by New York State Inspector General

ALBANY, NY (10/05/2009)(readMedia)-- New York State Inspector General Joseph Fisch announced the arrest of a Fulton County woman who illegally accessed confidential state data related to her son's rape victim.

Victoria Munson, 59, of Johnstown, made dozens of illegal computer searches of state social service and motor vehicle databases from 2007 to 2009 while she worked for the Fulton County Department of Social Services, according to investigators for the Inspector General's office.

Many of Munson's unauthorized inquiries sought confidential information about witnesses or relatives associated with the arrest and conviction of her son, Nicholas Munson, 25, who is serving state prison time for rape and weapons possession.

Victoria Munson was arrested by New York State Police in Fonda September 29 and charged with felony computer trespass and official misconduct, a misdemeanor. For some of the time that Munson allegedly accessed the databases, she was subject to a court order of protection banning her from any contact or interference with her son's victim, certain witnesses to the crimes, and their families, the investigation found.

Munson retired from her county job during the Inspector General's investigation. She was arraigned before Mayfield Town Justice Marjorie Jones and released on $500 bail pending an October 6 appearance in Johnstown City Court.

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