Popular cryptocurrency enthusiast Ben Armstrong was arrested on September 25 while he was broadcasting live from outside a house believed to be of an ex-associate. According to the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia, Armstrong was held for slightly over eight hours.
Post his release, Armstrong was slapped with two charges. These include "loitering/prowling" and "simple assault by placing another in fear." His release required him to pay a bond of $2,640, which combined the bond amount and associated fees.
Georgia's laws, as explained by the state-based law firm Lawson & Berry, state that loitering or prowling means being in a location in a suspicious manner that causes genuine and reasonable alarm regarding the safety of nearby people or property. If convicted for this misdemeanor, the accused can face penalties like a fine of up to $1,000, a maximum of a year in jail, or even both.
The term "simple assault" in Georgia's legal parlance refers to the act of either attempting to cause harm to another individual or doing something that makes someone reasonably fearful of immediate harm. This offense, like loitering, is typically categorized as a misdemeanor. However, there can be instances where the gravity of the charge might be increased, as mentioned by the law firm.
After his release, Armstrong communicated with the public on September 27, humorously commenting on his incarceration. He acknowledged his short jail stay and announced a temporary hiatus from social media. He clarified that his decision wasn't influenced by online memes. His arrest picture has been circulating widely within cryptocurrency social media circles.
Details suggest that on the night of his arrest, Armstrong was at Carlos Diaz's residence, his former associate. Armstrong claimed Diaz had his Lamborghini. He was actively broadcasting his displeasure for about 19 minutes when local law enforcement intervened and arrested him.
Crypto enthusiast EmperorBTC commented on the incident, advising his 360,000 followers that Armstrong's situation should serve as a cautionary tale.
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