Three high school students in Newburyport, Massachusetts, have been charged with identity theft after allegedly bullying a classmate using Facebook. The three students, all 14, allegedly stole the student's identity by creating a Facebook page using his name and photo.

The suspects then posted mean-spirited comments about other students in his name. The victim of the attack found out about the fake Facebook account when other students began harassing him about the negative comments. Reports say the victim's mother then contacted authorities. Police aren't sure how long the Facebook page was active, but the cyberbullying investigation began in September 2009.

Two of the victims are cooperating with the police, while the third has hired a lawyer. According to statements, the boys viewed the victim as an “outcast” and thought it would be funny to use his identity to post the fake messages. All three suspects have been charged with identity theft and will face a judge in Newburyport District Court sometime next week, reports say.

Earlier this year, high school student Phoebe Prince, 15, hung herself after she was cyberbullied by two classmates. Read the Kidproof news article.