Donors Raise $3,000 For Woman Who Allegedly Faked Having Cancer
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) - A Southern California woman who authorities say faked terminal cancer to get money has been referred to a special court for people with mental illness.
The Riverside Press-Enterprise reports that Cristina Lagman shared details on Facebook of what she claimed was a long-term struggle with cancer -- and people who barely knew her responded by raising about $3,000.
But the newspaper says that even as Lagman said she had mere weeks to live and was in great pain, she was hitting bars and doing Pilates.
Friends approached authorities, who charged Lagman with felony theft by false pretenses.
On Thursday, a judge granted her attorney's request that she be referred to mental health court, which offers treatment and supervision rather than jail to mentally ill offenders.
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