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Former Waxhaw mayor candidate facing identity theft charges

WAXHAW, N.C. — A former mayoral candidate is facing felony criminal charges after authorities said she stole the identity of the husband of her ex-business partner.

Lisa Thornton was booked into jail on Dec. 13 on charges of forgery and identity theft.

Police said they began investigating Thornton last month after her former business partner filed a report.

Thornton owns Sweet Repeats consignment store in Waxhaw and ran for mayor of the town in 2011. She was previously in a partnership agreement with the owner of a Sweet Repeats consignment store in Rock Hill, S.C.

Police said in July and August, Thornton used the name and Social Security number of her partner's husband to buy a cash register and credit card device for her store.

The victim told Channel 9 he first noticed the missing money when checks for the Rock Hill store started bouncing.

The victim told Eyewitness News he contacted the bank and one of his vendors, and that is when he says he saw Thornton had forged his signature on the paperwork.

Thornton declined an interview on Wednesday.

Residents told Channel 9 they had already heard about the allegations and were surprised to learn the prominent businesswoman was the focus of a police investigation.

"Well, I think it should be investigated, go into it deeper and find out what did happen," said resident Shirley Herman.

The Sweet Repeats store in Waxhaw is not affiliated with the Sweet Repeats store in Charlotte.