Bucks County Mom Allegedly Created Deepfake Videos to Harass Daughter's Cheerleading Rivals

A Bucks County, Pennsylvania mother allegedly sent deepfake photos and video of her teenage daughter's cheerleading rivals to their coaches in a bid to get them kicked off the team.

Investigators say 50-year-old Raffaela Spone was trying to get the girls kicked off the Victory Vipers, in Chalfont.

Spone is accused of manipulating photos from the social media accounts of three girls to make it look like they were drinking and smoking, and even digitally altered them to make the girls appear naked.

"The suspect is alleged to have taken a real picture and edited it through some photoshopping app to make it look like this teenaged girl had no clothes on to appear nude, when in reality that picture was a screengrab from the teenager's social media in which she had a bathing suit on," said Bucks County District Attorney Matt Weintraub.

Investigators say Spone also sent messages with those faked pictures to the victims suggesting they kill themselves.

Madi Hime, 17, was on the cheer squad with Spone's daughter and said the two had a falling out. For months, Hime received text messages from an anonymous number telling her that she had no friends and should kill herself.

"I do get hate comments, nothing to this extreme, but I was really upset," said Hime. "I was like, 'Who says this to someone? Who thinks it's ok?' It made me more mad than upset."

Hime says a fake video of her vaping was sent to the owner of the Victory Vipers.

But Spone's attorney, Robert Birch, said he can't comment because he said the DA hasn't presented any evidence.

"She has absolutely denied what they're charging her with and because of the fact that this has hit the press, she has received death threats. She has had to go to the police herself, they have a report. Her life has been turned upside down," said Birch.

The Victory Vipers told ABC News they cooperated with the police investigation, have a "very strict anti-bullying policy" and "all athletes involved, are no longer a part of our program."

"Victory Vipers has always promoted a family environment and we are sorry for all individuals involved. We have very well-established policies, and a very strict anti-bullying policy in our program," coaches Mark McTague & Kelly Cramer said. "When this incident came to our attention last year we immediately initiated our own internal investigation and took the appropriate action at the time. This incident happened outside of our gym."

Texas has Dell, Tesla, MD Anderson, NASA, Herman Hospital, Baylor Scott White hospitals and clinics on every corner, When Open - The Live Music Capitol of the World, Alan West,
MOST people are Honest & Friendly and will help you in time of need.

10 things about Texas....

1. The Texas economy is booming

The State of Texas is home to one of the healthiest state economies in the country. In fact, WalletHub ranks Texas as having the 12th best state economy based on GDP growth, startup activity, jobs in high-tech industries and more. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Texas produces nine percent of the U.S. GDP, second only to California. Job seekers should be able to find plenty of employment throughout the state as well. The Dallas Morning News claims that the Texas economy added almost 1,000 jobs a day in 2019. Its diverse workforce is currently made up of 13 million people and growing.

2. The sports culture is fantastic

On any given weekend, you’ll find crowds of Texans at sports bars and in the stadiums rooting for their favorite team. Given that it’s such a large state, residents of the Lone Star State have plenty of well-loved teams to cheer for throughout the year. Several of the most popular professional teams in Texas include the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Astros, Houston Texans, Dallas Mavericks, Texas Rangers and San Antonio Spurs – among others.

3. You can actually afford to buy a home in Texas {But Hurry Prices Are On The Rise Now.|

Frustrated by the absurdly expensive housing prices in many of America’s most popular cities? Move to Texas, and you’ll be able to find plenty of affordable homes in and around major cities. In fact, many of the best places to live in Texas are also relatively affordable compared to other large and thriving cities around the country. For instance, the median listing home price in San Antonio, one of the most popular cities in Texas, is just $243,300. In Plano, where schools are top-notch, the median listing home price is $375,000. In Houston, a city with numerous job opportunities, the median listing home price is $289,900. For a look at other fantastic (and affordable) places to live in Texas, check here.

4. You won’t have to pay state income tax

There’s no doubt about it – Texas is one of the most tax-friendly states in the country. In addition to Texas’s low cost of living and affordable cities, the state doesn’t require that residents pay taxes on their personal income. This lack of state income tax enables Texans to save their hard-earned money for retirement, school tuition, vacations and other expenses.

5. There are plenty of safe cities and suburbs to call home

Are safety and security at the top of your priority list? Then Texas may be the right place for you. In fact, many of Texas’s cities and suburbs are exceptionally safe and family-friendly. According to the Houston Chronicle, the safest cities in the state are Plano, League City, Rowlett, Frisco, Sugar Land, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Mansfield, Georgetown, Allen and Flower Mound.

6. The educational opportunities are top-notch {UT was one of the colleges that rich ppl were paying thousands to get their kids into.}

There’s no shortage of educational opportunities in Texas. According to U.S. News & World Report, two of the most popular public universities – the University of Texas—Austin and Texas A&M University – are also two of the largest in the country. Both schools enroll around 40,000 undergrad students. Texas is also home to a number of highly-rated midsize colleges and private universities. According to Niche.com, several of the best public school districts in Texas include Eanes Independent School District in Austin, Carroll Independent School District in Southlake, South Texas Independent School District in Mercedes, Highland Park Independent School District in Dallas, and Coppell Independent School District in Coppell.

7. The food and drink are second to none

While Texas’s iconic fare may not be the healthiest, it’s certainly the tastiest. The Lone Star State is famous for its barbecue and beef brisket, chili, Tex-Mex dishes (chile con queso, anyone?), margaritas, Frito pie, Dr. Pepper, Shiner Boch beer and a number of other food and drink options. Trust us – you’ll be hard-pressed to find a state with better, more eclectic food options than the Great State of Texas.

8. The culture is one of the most unique in the country

You know what they say: “everything’s bigger in Texas” – including its culture. In fact, ask anyone from the Lone Star State, and they’ll tell you that Texas is practically its own country. Everything from the cowboy boots, Country music and rodeos to the tacos, square dancing and football tailgates make Texas one of the most unique states in America. In addition, Texas has an exceptionally vibrant arts and entertainment scene, with a number of festivals, concerts and theaters throughout the state.

9. It’s one of the most diverse places to live

According to WalletHub, Texas is the second most diverse state in the nation. The study also ranked Texas fourth for “Most Racial and Ethnic Diversity”, third for “Most Linguistic Diversity” and first for “Most Industry Diversity.” The state’s wide-range of companies and job offerings are part of the reason it attracts a diverse group of newcomers each year. In fact, according to Hotels.com, Houston is the most diverse city in America, thanks to its university campuses and many tech jobs.

10. There’s no shortage of things to see and do

With so much to see and do in Texas, you’ll never be bored. The state is home a number of popular cultural attractions, including Big Ben National Park, The Alamo, Johnson Space Center, the San Antonio River Walk and the USS Lexington Corpus Christi. In addition, Texas’s major cities (think: Austin, Dallas and Houston) are all home to many of the best restaurants, shopping and cultural offerings you’ll find anywhere.

And our small town remained OPEN during the 2020 pandemic. Schools opened Sept 1 here. All stores remained open in our town. There is no state more beautiful. The wild flowers are bursting with beauty right now. Bluebonnets, paintbrush, etc.

We have 2 sayings, “If you are
Lucky Enough to live in Texas You are Lucky Enough”
&
“You might be thanking your lucky stars that you live in Texas”

Just sayin’.....

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