ST. PAUL — A man accused of concealing his true identity is charged with stalking in Dakota County after striking up a relationship online with his ex-wife.

Prosecutors said the man’s ex-wife had no idea the man who called himself Aaron Carpenter was actually her ex-husband, Brian Cornelius. Authorities say she “confided intimate details of her life and daily activities” after meeting a man she thought was Carpenter online.

A criminal complaint said the 36-year-old Sturgeon Lake man even persuaded his unknowing ex-wife to skip a court appearance on an order of protection she was seeking against him. Cornelius and the woman were married in 2000, divorced in 2011 and have two children together.

The complaint says Cornelius’ ex-wife eventually became suspicious and confronted him about his real identity.