Calum McSwiggan summoned to court over fake hate crime claims
The YouTuber faces up to a year in prison after being charged with filing a false police report.
Calum McSwiggan has been summoned to appear before courts in the US.
The British YouTuber is alleged to have faked injuries he claimed were sustained during an anti-gay hate crime and faces charges of filing a false police report.
McSwiggan was due to appear in the Los Angeles International Airport Courthouse yesterday (July 19) for a preliminary hearing – but was unable to attend due to a family holiday in Spain.
McSwiggan’s troubles began shortly before he posted a photo of himself in a hospital bed on social media, claiming that he was attacked outside a gay bar by three men in West Hollywood.
He also told his followers that he had three broken teeth and needed stitches in his head.
The internet personality went on to accuse authorities of treating him like a “second class citizen”.
However, West Hollywood police later said the YouTuber was arrested after officers witnessed him vandalising a car near the club.
They also claimed the YouTube star lied about the attack in order to avoid punishment – causing the injuries to himself whilst in custody.
Holly M. Perez – captain of the West Hollywood Station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department – said that McSwiggan had no “visible injuries” upon his arrest, sharing his mugshot to substantiate their claim.
Perez said the former porn actor was “observed injuring himself with the handle and receiver to a payphone inside the cell” – something the YouTuber later admitted, though he denied faking the earlier attack.
Following yesterday’s hearing, Commissioner Jane Godfrey said the 26-year-old must return to California on September 26, when his pre-trial hearing will take place.
McSwiggan has previously pleaded not guilty to the charge, but faces up to a year behind bars if convicted.
