'My friends think I'm being spiteful': Guy's crafty revenge on the officials that ruined his life

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Mar 3, 2023 11:00 AM EST

The reason this dude refuses to take his personal website down is actually pretty reasonable — but not to the officials in his touristy town. 

This guy has been through an insane amount of stuff in his life, as he shared to r/AmItheA**hole. It all started when he got arrested in front of all his coworkers, which he calls the most embarressing moment of his life, for a crime he didn't commit. Still, the OP spent nearly two months in prison, and lost his entire life because of it. His son was taken by the state, his job fired him, and worst of all, he has no way to get any of it back. He's told he can't sue the state, so what else is a guy to do but take matters into his own hands with a custom website?

The OP shared his story on this website, but in a hilarious twist, his experience gained traction for people wanting to visit his touristy town. Now, when they go to research their trip, the second website that pops up belongs to the OP, detailing the wrongful arrest that ruined his life. 

Next, see these wild items that people decided to sell for money on Craigslist, including plastic bags, 72 Taco Bell sauce packets, and random piles of rocks. 

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    Cheezburger Image 9739788800
    via Max Fleischmann
  • 02
    Font - r/AmItheA hole Posted by u/Anonymous Meese Ⓒ3 632 AITA for keeping my website up after being asked to remove it?
    via u/AnonymousMeese
  • 03
    Font - Back in November 2018 I was arrested at work in front of my boss and co-workers. It was the most humiliating thing I've ever experienced. I later learned at the police station that I was being charged with multiple felonies. This came as a huge surprise. Luckily I was able to keep my wits and lawyer up instead of speaking with the detective. For $13,000 which completely wiped my savings, I was able to retain a criminal defense attorney. However it cost me everything and I was unable to pa
    via u/AnonymousMeese
  • 04
    Font - Since my release, I've learned that I can't sue the police and no one gives a s that I was locked up for 54 days because the detective did poor investigation work. I've gone to the local press about this and was told that what happened to me happens quite a bit. They took down my info but never followed up. So what I did was create a website sharing my story. I also uploaded the police report and some other documents from the discovery. Literally the only reason why I was arrested was bec
    via u/AnonymousMeese
  • 05
    Font - I'm writing this now because my website is now ranked #2 on the first page of search results when you type in my town's name. I live in a touristy town and we attract a lot of visitors over the summer. My web traffic has more than quadrupled, and apparently it's gotten someone high up's attention. I received a cease and desist letter recently, which I showed to my attorney. He said sharing my experience online isn't illegal and that everything I had stated was a fact or my own opinion, pr
    via u/AnonymousMeese
  • 06
    Font - After the visit I received, I'm more ped off that the only reason the detective apologized to me was to get me to take down my website. I don't plan to and the only one supporting this is my girlfriend. My friends think I'm being spiteful and have suggested that I just delete it. AITA for keeping my website up?
    via u/AnonymousMeese
  • 07
    Font - UPDATED 7:50 PM: Holy cr! Thank you for the outpour of support, everyone. I never thought posting this in an online community was going to reach the right eyes so quickly! I had written this on my lunch break and was completely blown away and brought to tears when I checked back in after work. Several people reached out with helpful resources, including a litigator on Reddit who put me in contact with a colleague who practices in my state. Apparently there is precedent and people have won
    via u/AnonymousMeese
  • 08
    Font - My intent was to answer more questions since I wasn't able to do that while at work. I was also going to post the website as that has been a popular request, however I've been told not to continue further discussions beyond what I have already posted if I wish to pursue a civil suit.
    via u/AnonymousMeese
  • 09
    Font - Just a couple things I want to address in my update here. Some people are saying I'm leaving out details. My original post was much longer but there's a 3000 character limit imposed. I had to delete a lot of things from my initial draft so I apologize if it looks like details have been left out. I did try to make sure everything that was relevant was kept. Lastly, my son is now back with me. There was a lot of paperwork and even a court hearing, but we're together now and that's what coun
    via u/AnonymousMeese
  • 10
    Font - I'm sorry if I didn't respond to your comment or private message. I'm still going through my unread messages and still have quite a lot left to read. Truly, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support, words of encouragement, and advice that you sent my way. I can't even begin to put into words how grateful I am. Again, thank you so much to all the kind strangers who went out of their way to help.
    via u/AnonymousMeese
  • 11
    Font - godrestsinreason S tain [196] NTA, tell them that you will take the website down for $13,000. Edit: The armchair lawyers are out in full force today. Click here to find out why this isn't extortion. 24.5k Share echo852 A hole Aficionado [11] I'd go higher than that. Lost wages and all, plus the necessary paperwork, time, and misery that comes with getting his kid out of state care.
    via u/godrestsinreason
  • 12
    Font - MightyMary007. Commander in Cheeks [272] Don't settle for $13K. Consider the lost wages, psychological distress for OP and his kid, etc. I wouldn't take a dime less than $25K.
    via u/MightyMary007
  • 13
    Font - Bigedmond A hole Enthusiast [6] $100k minimum. They fed his life up.
    via u/Bigedmond
  • 14
    Font - tasunder Certified Proctologist [25] I'd go significantly higher. He also lost his job and had other serious financial and personal hardships.
    via u/tasunder
  • 15
    Font - gtr187 NTA. Man, just demanding the detective quit is awfully nice of you. I'd be demanding money. They have no legal basis to make you take it down - the C&D letter was just bullying (as was the detective's visit - he was probably forced to apologize by some higher up who is worried they are losing tourist dollars.) Unless they make you a nice cash offer, screw them, it should stay up.
    via u/gtr187
  • 16
    Font - sydneyunderfoot Partas ipant [1] OP can sell them the website for $200,000 and they can take it down. NTA at all
    via u/sydneyunderfoot
  • 17
    Font - Ashewastaken Partas_ipant [1] $13,000? No how about $1.3M? That sounds right. Punitive damages. Emotional Damages.
    via u/Ashewastaken
  • 18
    Product - [deleted] NTA - seems like you're looking for validation but I'll give it to you because that sounds like a nightmare. I hope your life improves from here. I love you. Take care. 9.9k Share AnonymousMeese OP While I do want exposure and see change in law enforcement procedure, a small part of me is doing it out of revenge. The revenge part is why I feel like an a hole.
    via u/deleted
  • 19
    Font - 01 Jowemaha Parta ipant [4] NTA even in the slightest 4 yr. ago Good for talking to your attorney, maybe talk to another attorney to see if you have grounds for a lawsuit against the department, clearly you have substantial damages as a result of bad policework. jury would be sympathetic I am sure 1.8k Share AnonymousMeese OP 4 yr. ago I've talked to a couple attorneys outside of the one I used for this case. While they all agree that what happened is a travesty, they said all that can re
    via u/Jowemaha
  • 20
    Font - I_dont_agree_with_me Parta ipant [1] NTA, but watch your back, it doesn't sound like they'd have much of a problem coming up with some bhit to get you arrested again.
    via u/I_dont_agree_with_me
  • 21
    Font - Trania86 4 yr. ago Professor Emerita [74] NTA. I'm so sorry this happened to you. I hope think will turn out better. Did your boss rehire you after you turned out to be the victim? I can't imagine not being able to take this further. Detaining you for 54 days without evidence sounds like something out of a movie. Then again, America isn't known for it's justice.
    via u/Trania86
  • 22
    Font - AnonymousMeese OP Their only evidence was an eye witness. Up until my attorney presented video footage, it was their word against mine. Edit: They hired a replacement for me but did offer me another position in another department with less pay. I ended up finding something else... Even though I know what happened to me wasn't my fault, I still feel so embarrassed to face the company.
    via u/AnonymousMeese
  • 23
    Font - Rickand Fes YTA, because we both know you are obviously NTA in this situation, but you posted anyways. 62 Share Thehealeroftri A hole Enthusiast [5] Also he didn't link his website wtf OP
    via u/RickandFes
  • 24
    Font - [deleted] NTA. Freedom of speech. Why can't you sue, exactly? 49 Share AnonymousMeese OP I was told the detective has immunity.
    via u/deleted

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