The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A Missouri State University sophomore was jailed last weekend after he reportedly vandalized 17 cars in the school’s parking lot and then engaged in a ChatGPT session where he allegedly shared the details of the situation, in addition to admitting he was the one who did it.
According to reports, early in the morning on August 28, seventeen vehicles in the MSU freshman parking lot were damaged, and it was presumed that the destruction was caused by an individual. The alleged mass vandalism left some of the vehicles with broken windows, missing rear-view mirrors, dents, and busted windshield wipers. When the authorities became aware of the situation, officers from the Springfield Police Department began investigating.
Video surveillance was collected, and images of the suspect were made public. People claiming they witnessed the incident were interviewed during the months-long investigation, and on September 23, someone reported that they believed they saw a 19-year-old man who fit the description of the perpetrator. The following day, while talking to the suspect’s roommate, he said the man told him he was involved in the incident. On September 29, an officer went to the apartment and spoke to the suspect. It was believed that his shoes were the same ones the person in the surveillance video was wearing, and they were confiscated as potential evidence. His phone was also searched, and the authorities reported that they found a ChatGPT session with the man’s confession to the acts.
A warrant was obtained, and the suspect was taken into custody and booked into the Greene County jail. He is facing a preliminary charge for felony property damage. A judge set his bond at $7,500. It was reported that if he is released, he will have to wear an electronic monitoring device and will randomly receive tests to ensure he is not using alcohol or illicit substances. Additionally, he will not be allowed to go to any place where alcohol is the predominant offering.
When the man watched the surveillance video, he reportedly said he understood how the authorities might think the person was him based on appearance, but did not admit to the accusations.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.