Woman jailed after alleged AI-generated text messages - WFTV
A Florida woman was arrested and jailed after investigators determined that AI-generated text messages may have been used as fabricated evidence, raising concerns about AI's impact on the criminal justice system.
- Incident date
- May 2026
- Target
- Melissa Sims
A Florida woman, Melissa Sims, was jailed for 24 hours after allegedly violating a no-contact order, but she claimed the incriminating text messages were fake. The messages, which appeared to be from Sims to her ex-boyfriend, were later suspected to be AI-generated.
What happened
Sims had recently ended a relationship and returned to her damaged home, calling 911. Her ex-boyfriend told deputies that Sims punched, scratched, and kicked him, leading to her arrest for domestic battery and a no-contact order. Weeks later, while in court, she was arrested again for allegedly violating the order via text messages to the ex-boyfriend. Sims denied sending the messages, and phone company records later supported her claim. A cybersecurity expert noted that AI advances are making it easier to create convincing fake digital evidence. The charges related to the alleged violation were not pursued, and Sims was found not guilty in the original domestic violence case.