A youngster from South Dakota has modified his plea to responsible over threatening messages despatched to builders at Epic Video games in relation to Fortnite (thanks, Gamespot). Jayden Griffin, who is nineteen years of age, was indicted by a grand jury in December 2024 over digital communications despatched to Epic Video games workers between October 24, 2024, and November 9, 2024.
Griffin pleaded responsible to “threatening interstate commerce”, a cost introduced as a result of Epic Video games is headquartered in North Carolina, and may very well be sentenced to a most of 5 years in federal jail, fined as much as $250,000, or a mix of the 2. Even ought to he keep away from jail or get a minimal sentence, he faces as much as three years of supervised launch. These are some doubtlessly life-changing penalties, and may definitely give a sure breed of keyboard warrior pause for thought.
A court docket doc filed on September 16, 2025, comprises the next assertion from Griffin: “I despatched messages to Epic Video games, the place I threatened to kill workers of the corporate. I meant for the messages to be seen as a risk on the time that I despatched the messages.”
In a listening to on September 29 on the US District Court docket of South Dakota, Griffin entered a responsible plea. He had beforehand entered a not responsible plea in a January 2025 listening to. The court docket doc reads:
“The Court docket finds that the defendant is competent and able to getting into an knowledgeable plea, is conscious of the character of the fees and penalties of the plea, that the plea is understanding and voluntary and is supported by an impartial foundation the truth is containing every of the important components of the offense and orders that the defendant shall be adjudged responsible of the offense.”
Griffin will likely be sentenced at a later date. Epic Video games declined to remark.
This case is the newest instance of recreation studios, fairly rightly, taking extra aggressive motion in opposition to individuals who harass or threaten their workers. Bungie has been particularly ahead on this, pursuing sure people relentlessly and profitable some huge judgements.
