An opportunity for scholarship and pageantry advancement has spiraled into a nightmare for the original winner of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity’s Miss Black and Gold Pageant.

On Dec. 14, ISU police arrested Courtney Savoy, 20, on charges of transmission of unsolicited bulk electronic mail, exhibiting persons and harassment of original pageant winner Brittany Overstreet, sophomore in communication studies.

Overstreet was crowned on Nov. 30, but stepped down just days later for undisclosed reasons.

According to police records, on Nov. 29, Overstreet reported that someone had created a false online MySpace profile and was using that profile under her identity to send offensive messages. She told police that approximately 30 people had received unsolicited e-mail from a false address created containing her name. The e-mail contained an explicit photograph of Overstreet and was entitled, “I should be the 1st Miss Black and Gold Queen.”

A second e-mail was received on Nov. 30 from the false account entitled, “Brittany Overstreet Black and Gold Material? I think not.”

Police traced the messages to Savoy’s apartment building. Savoy admitted responsibility for the two e-mail messages and the falsification of the MySpace profile, which incited the investigation.

Savoy was charged with three counts of identity theft. She presented herself as Overstreet online in order to obtain a picture from Overstreet’s boyfriend.ÿ

Savoy’s preliminary hearing was held on Dec. 22, where she provided a voluntary written statement and an apology letter to Overstreet. Savoy was unable to be reached for comment.

Overstreet declined to comment on the basis of a new year and fresh start, and has lost the crown and scholarship.