Lake Luzerne Man Arrested for False Child Abuse Report Over Facebook Feud

Lake Luzerne Man Arrested for Filing False Child Abuse Report Over Social Media Dispute

A Lake Luzerne man was arrested after allegedly making a false child abuse report as an act of retaliation following an online argument, according to authorities.

Sean P. O’Brien, 34, of Call Street, was taken into custody on September 28, 2016, after an investigation led by Warren County Child Protective Services and the Warren County Sheriff's Office.

Investigation & Arrest

Law enforcement determined that on September 9, 2016, O’Brien knowingly filed a false hotline report claiming an acquaintance was neglecting a child. Investigators later discovered that O’Brien had no legitimate concerns about child welfare and that his report was motivated by a dispute on Facebook.

"It was simply retribution," said Sheriff’s Lt. Steve Stockdale, confirming that O’Brien’s actions were a personal vendetta rather than a legitimate concern.

O’Brien was charged with falsely reporting an incident, a misdemeanor, and was released pending prosecution in Lake Luzerne Town Court. Sheriff’s Investigator Chris Hatin made the arrest.

What’s Next?

Filing a false child abuse report is a serious offense, as it wastes critical resources and can have devastating consequences for innocent individuals. Authorities urge the public to use hotline services responsibly and report only genuine concerns.

For updates on Lake Luzerne, Hadley, Hadley-Luzerne, Town of Day, and Stony Creek, visit HadleyLuzerne.com.