NEW HAVEN — A New Haven woman was arrested Tuesday by the West Virginia State Police for stealing a person’s identity.

Amanda Nicole Jones, 25, was taken to the Western Regional Jail in Barboursville for two counts each of identity theft and forgery, according to the state police.

According to the criminal complaint, Jones allegedly filed two student loan applications with Direct Loans in September 2006 using another person’s identity. Direct Loans is a company that provides financial aid that can be used by students who intend to attend college or a vocational center to further their education.

The victim filed the complaint Saturday, with the state police stating that he/she did not give Jones permission to use personal information or sign his/her name.

Cpl. C.K. Zerkle is the lead investigator and made the arrest.

According to state code, identity theft occurs when a person knowingly takes the name, birth date, Social Security number or other identifying information of another person without the consent of that person with the intent to fraudulently represent being that person for the purpose of making financial or credit transactions.

Identity theft is a felony and upon conviction, the penalty is 1-5 years in the state penitentiary and/or a fine of up to $1,000.

Forgery is charged when a person forges any writing to the prejudice of another’s right or utters or attempts to employ as true such forged writing knowing it to be forged. This also is a felony and, if convicted, the person can be confined to a state penitentiary for 1-10 years and/or fined up to $500.

Jones was arraigned before Magistrate Gail Roush, who set bond at $40,000.

She was released from the jail Wednesday morning.