Sharon Man Arrested for Allegedly Stealing Identity of Dead Girlfriend, Neighbor

On November 23, 2016 troopers arrested Joel M. Tilford, 55, for Identity Theft 2nd degree after a several month long investigation.

The investigation began after Tilford's neighbor passed away and he was found to have sold his neighbor's vehicle for $1,600. Tilford was arrested for Criminal Possession of Stolen Property 4th, a Class E Felony and Falsely Reporting a Stolen Motor Vehicle on January 12, 2016. While executing a search warrant of his residence it was further discovered that he was registering and insuring his deceased girlfriend's vehicle since she had died approximately 2 years earlier. A joint investigation with the Department of Motor Vehicles and Schoharie County Department of Social Services led to Tilford being arrested for Identity Theft 2nd, a Class E Felony. He is scheduled to appear in the Town of Sharon Court.