Man Wrongfully Imprisoned for 18 Months After Police Misread Kik Username
Brandon Klayme served 18 months in prison after authorities confused his single-underscore Kik handle with a double-underscore one linked to child-sex offenses, a mistake later corrected by the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal.
An investigation by the Dane County Sheriff's Office sought a user named fus__ro_dah, who had exchanged sexual material with a 12-year-old on Kik. A subpoena error changed the handle to fus_ro_dah, leading investigators to Brandon Klayme, whose Kik name contained only one underscore. Halifax Regional Police seized Klayme's electronics in 2020, found no links to the child victim, yet charged him with possession of child pornography, distribution to a child, and child luring.
He was found guilty, sentenced to 18 months, and completed the term before filing an appeal. The Nova Scotia Court of Appeal ruled in July that the conviction rested on the mistaken username attribution and acquitted Klayme of all charges. His lawyer says he is exploring a civil lawsuit for compensation.
Why it matters
The case highlights how minor digital errors can lead to wrongful imprisonment and underscores the need for careful cyber-investigation practices.
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