Woman Behind Viral Facebook Videos Arrested in Burke County

MORGANTON, N.C. — A woman whose Facebook livestreams have circulated widely across the Catawba Valley in recent weeks was arrested Tuesday morning on a cyberstalking charge, and an arrest warrant obtained by Catawba Valley News & Weather accuses her of posting another woman’s phone number and home address on social media.

Patricia Joy Serino, 40, known online as Tricia Bianes, was booked into the Burke County jail at 10:16 a.m. Tuesday. Bond was set at $1,000 secured.

According to the charging language, Serino knowingly allowed a phone or computer under her control to be used to post the woman’s number and home address online, encouraging everyone, including strangers, to contact her in reference to an alleged kidnapping. The warrant says the posts resulted in numerous texts and phone calls to the woman and left her in fear for her safety.

Catawba Valley News & Weather is not identifying the woman. The court file is designated a Victims’ Rights Act case.

The warrant was issued Sunday in Wake County and lists the Cary Police Department as the investigating agency. The offense date is listed as Aug. 14. Burke County deputies served it Tuesday morning.

A Burke County magistrate, acting on behalf of Wake County, ordered Serino to have no contact with the woman, to stay away from her home, school and workplace, and to make no telephone or electronic contact with her. The order also directed that Serino provide a DNA sample before release.

Cyberstalking is a Class 2 misdemeanor in North Carolina, punishable by up to 60 days in jail.

Serino is scheduled to appear Sept. 8 at the Wake County Justice Center in Raleigh. It was not immediately clear Tuesday afternoon whether she remained in custody.

A charge is an accusation, not a conviction. Serino is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

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