The 20-year-old man accused of trying to steal code for Atomic Games’ Breach from the PAX East show floor failed to show up for arraignment in court – and a warrant has gone out for his arrest.
Okay, everybody, let’s play “Bad Idea, Worse Idea!”
Bad Idea: Trying to steal the code for a game from a busy show floor at a crowded industry show, having earlier admitted to pirating Forza 3 and being banned from Xbox Live because of it.
Worse Idea: Failing to show up to your court date for arraignment for the felony you’ve been accused of above.
That’s what 20-year-old Justin D. May did, Suffolk County District Attorney press secretary Jake Wark told Kotaku. For whatever reason, May missed his court date after posting a $200 bail, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Look, I certainly understand why a 20-year-old would be afraid to go into court after something like this, to face charges of larceny over $250 and buying, selling or receiving stolen trade secrets. That’s scary stuff – the first charge carries prison time of up to five years or a $25,000 fine, and the second could earn you prison time of up to five years or a $500 fine and two years in the house of corrections. Anyone would be intimidated of going in to face something like that, guilty or no.
But that doesn’t mean that you don’t get to go. Maybe he’s used to flagrantly defying the law for years and never getting punished as a software pirate. Maybe he didn’t think they’d find him (he’s probably played GTA of course, all he needs is to respray his car and a change of clothes and he’s good)! Either way, this really doesn’t make him look good. In fact, this just makes him look really, really guilty. And really, really stupid.
While he is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, in the court of my mind? Well, let’s just say I’m going to be referring to Mr. May as Guilty von Dumbass from here on out.
Update: Joystiq has his gamertag, and has noted that wherever he is, he’s playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Well done, Guilty von Dumbass. Well done. What, you couldn’t wait until after your court date to download the Stimulus Package?
