Today we dive inside the stories of 17 YouTuber’s who have fallen foul of the law inclosing Jaystation, Saabbatical and one of YouTube’s biggest stars.
17 – Saabbatical
Visiting Russia can be a tumultuous affair in today’s world, especially for western content creators, and it does not matter how many subscribers you have, if you make a mistake, you are going to be in trouble.
YouTuber Sabbatical, also known as Sabbatical Tommy had decided to visit Moscow and vlog his visit to several Russian regions after arriving on a boat from China.
After a long interview, he was granted permission to enter the country and began to vlog his experiences but things were about to take a turn for the worst.
During one of his videos, he referred to Russia’s special military operation as an invasion, leading to a local court hiring a language expert to analyze his wording.
Concluding that the use of the word “invasion” lent a negative character to the content and created a negative impression of Russia’s actions.
He was convicted of Discrediting the Russian Armed Forces and Disobeying the police after a disagreement near the Russia-China border in the Jewish Autonomous Region in a one day trial.
He was held in a Russian jail for several days before being released after his family was able to arrange for a lawyer through the U.S. embassy and stated that for his stay, he was kept away from the other prisoners.
16 – JayStation
One of YouTubes most controversial figures, Jason Ethier has been involved in multiple arrests and legal issues related to his controversial content that included overnight stays in businesses.
As the Jaystation channel grew, he began to run into legal issues, but instead of changing the content to become more advertiser friendly, he actually became more controversial.
He began filming ghost-style videos and received massive public backlash for running a notorious “death hoax,” in which he falsely claimed his girlfriend had been killed by a drunk driver.
His now former partner, Alexia Marano later filed charges of assault and alleged abuse that led to Toronto police to issue an arrest warrant for Ethier.
He was arrested at Disney’s Epcot Center in Florida and charged with trespassing and resisting arrest after becoming verbally aggressive with security and refusing to stop filming restricted areas.
Ethier recently re-surfaced on YouTube after he discovered their second chances program and was accepted back into the partner program after almost 10-years with his new channel, TheScariest.
15 – Trey Sesler
The YouTuber who went by the alias “Mr. Anime,” was arrested and charged with three counts of capital murder after he shot and killed his mother, father, and older brother at the family’s home on March 20th, 2012.
He pleaded guilty to all charges on August 2nd, 2012, and was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Investigators stated that Sesler was also planning to perpetrate a school shooting at Waller High School after murdering his family, but he ultimately did not follow through with that part of the plan.
Sesler is currently held inside the Charles T. Terrell Unit at unincorporated Brazoria County, Texas and is currently the only notable prisoner at the facility.
14 – Ali Abulaban
Ali Abulaban, a former social media figure known for his content creation, has been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of two counts of first-degree murder.
The conviction stems from the fatal 2021 shooting of his estranged wife and her male friend in their San Diego apartment which occurred on October 2021.
During the trial, Abulaban admitted to the killings, shifting the focus of the jury to the level of intent. The jury was tasked with determining whether the crime was deliberate or a crime of passion.
The defense argued for a conviction of manslaughter, claiming the killings occurred in a “heat of passion.” However, prosecutors successfully convinced the jury that the act was deliberate and premeditated, presenting evidence related to the domestics.
Following a guilty verdict on two counts of first-degree murder, Abulaban was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 50 years.
13 – Mykhailo Polyakov
Originally running the channel “Neo-Orientalist” and a self-described “danger tourist, ” Polyakov was arrested in India for illegally trying to make contact with one of the world’s most isolated tribes.
He was charged with illegally entering the protected territory of North Sentinel Island, part of India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands and a place where the local tribe almost never sees people.
Indian law strictly prohibits travel within three nautical miles of the island and any contact with the inhabitants—the Sentinelese tribe, with the law protecting the tribe from outside diseases.
It was said that Polyakov left a can of Diet Coke and a coconut on the shore as an offering to the tribe, used a GoPro camera to record footage and collected sand samples.
He was spotted by local fishermen who alerted authorities, leading to his arrest in Port Blair, was sent to judicial custody and could face a jail term of up to five years.
12 – Ruslan Sokolovsky
Heading back to Russia now and in August 2016, Sokolovsky posted a video that showed him playing the mobile game Pokémon Go inside the Church of All Saints in Yekaterinburg, Russia.
This did not go down well with the authorities, and Sokolovsky was convicted of two main criminal offenses under Russian law including Inciting hatred or enmity and insulting human dignity.
The Russian YouTuber Ruslan Sokolovsky was sent to prison, initially for pre-trial detention, and later given a suspended sentence, after being convicted on charges related to his YouTube content.
His legal troubles stemmed from a video he posted in August 2016 that showed him playing the mobile game Pokémon Go inside the Church of All Saints in Yekaterinburg, Russia.
Public actions expressing clear disrespect to society with the aim to insult religious feelings of believers committed in places for religious study.
The prosecution and court decision focused on the fact that his video showed him playing the game in a church and contained comments, such as him saying he believed that Jesus did not exist.
The court’s conviction was based on an analysis of this video, as well as several of his earlier videos, which were determined to deny the existence of God and mock both Christianity and Islam.
After being held in pre-trial custody for two months, he was later released to house arrest, but was returned to custody after violating the terms by having a visit from his girlfriend.
In May 2017, the court found him guilty and gave him a three-and-a-half year suspended prison sentence and he was also found guilty for the illegal possession of special technical devices, later overturned on appeal.
11 – Eric Van Conover
A popular real estate and luxury home tour YouTuber, Erik Conover’s legal troubles began with two separate incidents in New Hampshire, USA.
Conover was initially pulled over for speeding in Bartlett, New Hampshire, however, after stopping briefly, Conover allegedly fled, leading police on an extended chase.
Law enforcement claims that during the pursuit, Conover stopped and then intentionally put his car in motion again, striking a police officer with his vehicle before driving away. The officer sustained leg injuries.
The pursuit lasted for over 25 miles before Conover was apprehended. He was initially charged with serious crimes, including Attempted Murder, First-Degree Assault, and Reckless Conduct with a Deadly Weapon.
He later pleaded guilty to hitting the officer and was subsequently sent to prison. He had previously been arrested for DUI and later claimed he was the victim of a police sting.
10 – Ruby Franke
Running the now-defunct channel “8 Passengers,” Ruby Franke was sent to prison after pleading guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse.
The case against Frank came to light in August 2023 when Franke’s then-12-year-old son escaped from business partner Jodi Hildebrandt’s house in Ivins, Utah, and ran to a neighbor’s home asking for food.
He was found to be malnourished, with open wounds and duct tape on his ankles and wrists, with Law enforcement subsequently finding Franke’s 9-year-old daughter in the house, who was also malnourished.
Both Franke and Hildebrandt were arrested and Franke was initially charged with six counts of aggravated child abuse, but later took a plea deal and pled guilty to four counts.
On February 20th, 2024, Franke was sentenced to four consecutive terms of one to 15 years in prison, with the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole set to determine the actual amount of time she will serve.
9 – Joe Guerrero
The creator of the popular YouTube channel “After Prison Show,” Joe Guerrero has talked in detail about his arrest and subsequent time in prison on his channel.
His history with the criminal justice system, which he attributes to a long struggle with drug addiction that began in his youth was the one thing that actually led to a better life in the free world.
Guerrero was convicted of cocaine and firearm possession after a car stop in his local home town. The female passenger who was driving was taken to the hospital, however police found her gun in the vehicle.
Joe was sentenced to seven years in prison, served time at various facilities and was released in 2015 at the age of 32 when he started his YouTube channel.
He started the channel as a way to hold himself accountable and document his genuine, often frustrating, struggle to reintegrate into society and created videos including prison cooking and interviewing former inmates.
The channel gained massive popularity by offering an authentic look into the reality of life after incarceration, eventually allowing him to quit his day job and turn content creation into a full-time, six-figure career.
8 – Stephen McCullagh
Many people go to great lengths to cover up their crimes, but none more so than former YouTuber Stephen McCullagh who was arrested for the Murder of his pregnant girlfriend.
Mr. McCullagh is accused of staging a six-hour YouTube gaming livestream on the night of the murder to appear as though he was at home and not involved.
Police cyber experts later determined that the footage was pre-recorded days earlier and played out as if it were live.
The case against him includes CCTV evidence and claims that he secretly recorded the victim’s loved ones after the murder to try and determine if he was a suspect.
McCullagh has denied the murder charge and was refused bail due to the nature of the charge and concerns raised in court about a risk of interference with the course of justice.
His current time in one of Ireland’s most secure prisons is around three years with the trial phase only recently getting under way due to the nature of the alibi.
7 – SSSniperwolf
Another one of YouTube’s biggest stars, real name Alia Shelesh runs the SSSniperWolf channel with over 31.5 million subscribers and an estimated net worth of around $16 million.
Her troubles with the law began in what she claims, was a wrongful arrest for armed robbery that saw her spend time in police custody, with her partner at the time also arrested.
While this was later laughed off, she was arrested again in 2016 following an argument with her partner at their home where she was screaming at her partner outside.
No charges were ever placed on Alia and she continues to run the channel to this day, however her partner and her are now separated with possible legal action pending.
6 – Mr Beast
While Mr Beast has never been convicted of any actual crimes, he has had several run-ins with the law during his past that resulted in fines.
He was arrested back in 2018 for speeding in the Tarboro area of North Carolina and held on $100,000 dollar bond with his mugshot appearing in several media outlets.
Charged with speeding, reckless driving, and speed competition, he was found to have been going 122 mph in a 70 mph zone but later had the charges reduced and received a fine.
Donaldson was cited again on July 27th, 2023, after allegedly rocketing up a highway at almost 100 mph in a 70 zone, but again only received a $150 fine.
He was also hit with a tinted window violation with his reckless driving citation being a Class 2 misdemeanor and a criminal offense that can lead to fines up to $1,000, jail time, and a criminal record on North Carolina.
5 – Monalisa Perez
In one of the most shocking events on the platform, Perez and her boyfriend, Pedro Ruiz, were filming a video for their YouTube channel in which Ruiz believed he could stop a bullet with a book.
Perez fired a .50 caliber handgun from close distance into a hardback encyclopedia that Ruiz was holding to his chest and the bullet passed right through.
Fatally injured, Perez was arrested and later pled guilty to second-degree manslaughter, with her being sentenced to six months in jail that was served in a staggered manner.
Perez was pregnant with her second child at the time of the shooting and also received 10 years of supervised probation and was banned for life from owning firearms.
Prior to the shooting, Perez had tweeted that the video was “one of the most dangerous videos ever” and emphasized that it was her partners idea and not hers.
4 – Daniel Silva
Professional tattoo artist and former contestant on the show Ink Master, YouTuber Silva was driving a McLaren sports car at a high speed with Corey La Barrie in the passenger seat in 2020.
Silva lost control of the vehicle, which struck a stop sign and then a tree in Valley Village, Los Angeles and La Barrie, who was severely injured, later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
Silva was initially arrested and charged with second-degree murder, however, Authorities alleged that both he and La Barrie were intoxicated, and witnesses claimed Silva attempted to flee the scene before being stopped by citizens rendering aid.
In July 2020, Silva took a plea deal, pleading no contest to a lesser charge of felony gross vehicular manslaughter, being sentenced to 364 days in county jail, five years of formal probation and 250 hours of community service.
He was also sentenced to a suspended prison sentence of four years and was released from jail in October 2020 after serving his sentence.
3 – Germán Abraham Loera Acosta
Loera Acosta was identified as the leader of a criminal gang and was arrested along with four other people for the kidnapping of an attorney, Tania Medina.
The kidnapping occurred on February 28th, 2018, in the centre of Chihuahua, Mexico, when the victim was forced into a vehicle and taken to a house.
The kidnappers demanded a ransom payment of $2 million and requested to be paid in the cryptocurrency Bitcoin.
Prior to this arrest, Acosta had a YouTube channel that was used to discuss business activities and personal motivation topics. He was sentenced to 50-years in prison for the crimes in March 2020.
2 – Daniel Jarvis
A member of the Trollstation YouTube channel, which has 1.3 million subscribers, Jarvis staged a fake robbery at London’s National Portrait Gallery in 2015.
The stunt was actually a prank for the groups channel, however the police and members of the public, who were terrified, were not impressed by the incident.
In 2016, Jarvis and three others were jailed for a total of 72 weeks after pleading guilty to two counts of threatening behaviour causing fear of unlawful violence.
The prank had caused a mass stampede from the gallery and put lives at risk with the court suggesting other such “warped” stunts could lead to fatalities.
Today, Jarvis has been released from prison and the Trollstation channel still exists with Jarvis also appearing on BBC radio 5-Live to document the troubled experience.
1 – Jack Doherty
Doherty’s legal issues began when police in Miami Beach observed him disrupting and blocking traffic along Washington Avenue, and, according to official reports, the YouTuber was in the roadway, allegedly filming.
When officers attempted to intervene and repeatedly commanded him to leave the street, Doherty reportedly refused to comply, telling the officers he would move only “Once I’m done with this bet.”
This deliberate refusal to obey lawful orders led to his immediate apprehension and the misdemeanor charge of Resisting an Officer Without Violence.
Following his arrest, a search of Doherty’s person was conducted, which led to the discovery of illegal substances and he picked up Felony charges for Possession of a Controlled Substance.
Doherty was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on the combined felony and misdemeanor charges. He was later released after posting a $3,500 bond.
Shortly after his release, Doherty shared his experience online, calling his brief time in custody “the worst 24-hours ever,” highlighting the sudden and serious reality check that followed his disruptive behaviour.
Having more than 15 million subscribers on YouTube, over 10 million followers on TikTok, its currently unclear if the case will go to trial.
Benjamin Rich
Thanks for reaching the end of the video, as a bonus, we’ve thrown in a YouTuber who nearly had a very bad run-in with Russia’s security Services.
Benjamin Rich who runs the YouTube channel Bald and Bankrupt was exploring the Baikonur Cosmodrome, which is located in Kazakhstan but is leased and operated by Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos.
He was released after a few hours of questioning but ran into trouble again in September 2022 when he was arrested and held in a Russian Prison for several days.
Thankfully, Rich is able to speak almost perfect Russian and was very careful about what he posted online, but he was seen as a British Citizen and therefore banned from returning to Russia.
He had been questioned about calling Vladimir Putin crazy and posting a link on his channel to help fundraise for Ukraine before later crossing into Estonia and back to safety, before documenting his experience in a later video.
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