CAUGHT FAKING IT: NJ MAN ACCUSED OF SENDING HIMSELF THREATS

A Passaic County man is facing charges after allegedly fabricating threats and falsely reporting them to police, authorities said.

Nathan W. Slingland, 22, of West Milford, was charged on Sept. 22 following an investigation by the Franklin Borough Police Department.

According to police, Slingland filed two separate reports on June 11 and June 22, claiming he was receiving “threatening and harassing” text messages from two people he knew.

Investigators later found that the messages were sent through third-party texting apps connected to Slingland’s own email accounts and recovery phone numbers—indicating he was behind the messages himself, police said.

Authorities determined that Slingland had staged the threats in an effort to falsely incriminate others.

He has been charged with two counts of filing false reports to law enforcement. If convicted, Slingland faces up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $15,000.