Taryn Manning Has a Stalker? Orange Is the New Black Actress Obtains Order of Protection Against Ex-Friend

The former pal "engaged in a course of conduct intended to cause reasonable fear of material harm to the physical health, safety and welfare" of the star, Manning's lawyer says

Taryn Manning, who plays religious, troubled and often entertaining inmate Tiffany "Pennsatucky" Doggett on the Netflix prison series Orange Is the New Black, is dealing with some pretty heavy stuff in the real world.

The 35-year-old actress accuses a former friend, Jeanine Heller, of cyber stalking her. The woman was arrested and arraigned on Wednesday at a New York criminal court on a misdemeanor charge of stalking in the fourth degree and then released. Heller has not commented directly about the case, but did post, "Don't believe the lies. #truth will come to light," on her Twitter page on Thursday, July 3. She removed the tweet later in the day.

"The arrest followed an investigation by members of the New York County District Attorney's Office after it was reported that Ms. Heller had engaged in a course of conduct intended to cause reasonable fear of material harm to the physical health, safety and welfare of Taryn Manning," the actress' lawyer said in statement to E! News.

"Following the arrest, the District Attorney requested and received an Order of Protection which prohibits any further attempt by Ms. Heller to contact Taryn Manning through any medium possible, electronic or otherwise," he added. "The Order of Protection extends to the family and close friends of Taryn Manning who have been adversely impacted by the actions of Ms. Heller."

E! News has confirmed that Manning claimed in court documents that Heller repeatedly via email and phone over the past few months and had tried to make her paranoid by trying to make her believe that another friend was selling secrets about her to the press.

"Jeanine befriended Taryn about a year ago," a source told us. "None of us liked or trusted her."

The order of protection, or restraining order, also bars Heller from coming into contact with the actress' dog, Penguin. Heller's next court date is Aug. 6.

Manning, who is also known for a past recurring role in the FX series Sons of Anarchy, has been seen in photos with Heller in the past. On Feb. 28, Heller tweeted, "So proud to call this chick tarynmanning my #bff."

—Reporting by Alicia Quarles and Marcus Mulick