My friend and fellow forum member B92F sent me this photo, he would post it himself, but is uncertain on how to do that, so I'm posting it for him. I'm sure he will be along soon to add any details and backstory. Anyway, here is th image in question.



It is an obvious cut and paste, he (and I) are wondering if this would fall under the heading of stolen valor.

I'm gonna go with AI, the Globe and Anchor look odd as well as the stars under the chevrons

Yes, it's clearly AI generated.

As to stolen valor, was he a Marine? And did he earn those medals shown? (Which don't even appear to be actual medals, rather just random AI generated medal amalgamations.)

And keep in mind that while the term "stolen valor" is often informally used to refer to anyone who claims unearned military service, the formal stolen valor law only pertains to people who use those fraudulent claims for actual or attempted financial or tangible gain.

So if he's not a Marine, then any actual Marine will certainly take offense to him using this as a profile photo or similar. And it's just odd to post fake photos of you in a uniform you didn't earn. Some less informed people might assume he was a Marine just from the use of that one picture, but the obvious AI nature of it is quickly recognizable. And it likely doesn't formally rise to the level of stolen valor by law until/unless he's actually using it to attempt to convince folks he truly was a Marine and gain some concrete benefit from it.

The whole back story is long and complicated.

It involves this individual claiming that back in 1974 at the age of 15 he was seduced and entrapped by a 19-year-old undercover sheriff officer and arrested for selling LSD. That incident messed up his life and he is now trying to get compensation from the school board, sheriff dept. and the DA's office. He may well indeed have been arrested back in '74 but I don't believe it was under the circumstances he purports them to be. I have confirmed that he was arrested in 2004 and 2015 for felony possession of controlled substances, apparently cocaine.


He has posted his "story" on Facebook, and there is nothing in his posted work and education history that says he was in the military. I believe that most of his work and education history is bogus as well.

Any assistance with the photo is greatly appreciated and if you have any further info, I'll be happy to provide it, as in where to find him on Facebook.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Yes, it's clearly AI generated.

Yes, it is IA has he has several photos posted with the same position but different attire and backgrounds. There is nothing that he has posted where he claims to have been a Marine that I have found. Just wanting to add to the stack of info on this clown.

Sounds like the guy is full of shit, in more ways than one.

And it appears he's trying to use the insinuation, if not quite the outright claim, of USMC service to sway opinions and gain sympathy.

So the guy's an asshole, but if that's the extent of it then it's not stolen valor by law, because "internet clout" or "cool guy points" or "sympathy for a service member" isn't a tangible benefit.

Just like the braggart at the bar who claims to be an elite Seal Ranger Delta Sniper with eleventy confirmed kills but it's all classified. "Stolen valor" in public opinion, but not stolen valor by law.

That is Sgt. Sak O. Shit

He was also in the USN during Desert Storm

First, I was never in the military.

I know AI when I see it.

If he does not claim to be a Marine, it wouldn't be stolen valor.

Posting yourself in a Halloween costume is not stolen valor.

All the medals and insignia are similar but not the same as any real medals or insignia I have ever seen.

If he claims military service, it would be stolen valor.

I forgot that one can go the surplus store, purchase a uniform and walk around in it, so long as you don't profess to be whatever rank you're wearing. So, no stolen valor, I get it. Anyway, the same schmuck, different garb.

quote:

Originally posted by clubleaf206:
I forgot that one can go the surplus store, purchase a uniform and walk around in it, so long as you don't profess to be whatever rank you're wearing.

They can even put on a surplus uniform and blatantly claim service and rank, as long as they're only doing it just for the smiles and handshakes.

It's strange, and makes you an asshole, and may get you confronted and outed by actual servicemen, but that alone is not illegal.

The crime of stolen valor requires tangible gain.

The 1st Amendment extends even to objectionable speech (including falsely claiming military service/rank) until that speech rises to the level of something like fraud for financial gain, threats, or harassment.

It doesn't, however, protect you from getting your ass kicked by a real Marine, or being outed and embarrassed in the court of public opinion... It's just not a crime.

I figured the stolen valor was going to stretch it a bit. And he is a real piece of work. He has recently tried to garner sympathy of his arrest in '74 and the resultant loss of innocence with the investigation of the serial killer BTK during the same timeframe.

His name is David Howard Wilkinson - Digital Prophet at Saint Tech Church of Jesus Inc

Should you be interested here is a link to his FB page. The posting in questsion is pinned at the top.

https://www.facebook.com/SaintTechChurch

Looking around that FB page made me feel icky. Whatever is going on with that kook, I don’t want any part of.

The emblem on his cover is wrong

His buttons are wrong

The medals he is sporting don't exist

The bogus marksmanship award doesn't exist

His rank insignia with three stripes and two stars is what, a brigadier sergeant?

As long as he wants to play Marine I'll offer some advice I heard once... or maybe more:

YOU HAD BEST UNFUCK YOURSELF NUMNUTZ!

other than that I got nuthin-

Although “stolen valor” gets the attention, there is a Federal statute, 18 U.S.C. § 702, that prohibits the unauthorized wear of an armed forces uniform, or “distinctive part” of a uniform. According to my research, that goes back to 1948, and one of those odd things that sticks in my mind was from when I watched teevee years ago.

An episode of “The Lieutenant” (IIRC) was about the discovery that a civilian was wearing a Navy officer uniform, evidently to impress a date. The story was that the Shore Patrol (correct term?) contacted him because he was wearing the summer uniform in the winter which was a uniform violation, but then it was determined that he wasn’t in the Navy at all. The complaint was then referred to the FBI because the offense was under Federal jurisdiction.

Although the Federal “stolen valor” statute requires an intent to receive some tangible benefit from the offense, that’s evidently not true of 18 U.S.C. § 702. (There are numerous exceptions and clarifications, but the general intent to deceive about one’s status seems to be the critical factor.)

In the unlikely event that something like what was pictured above ever resulted in a Federal charge, it would be interesting to know if the identified errors in the medals, rank insignia, shooting badge, etc., would be a defense: “No, I wasn’t wearing a military uniform without authorization because it wasn’t a real uniform.” At first glance it appears to be a Marine Corps uniform, but not after the details are noted. Even the hat and collar insignia are not the correct eagle, globe and anchor design (I believe; I was not a Marine).

sigreund:

That's some interesting information. The fact that it is an obvious photoshop would probably be an added defense.

But something to spend a little time looking into, and since I'm retired, I've got nothing but time.

None of the shit on his fake uniform actually exists, and even if it did, it would be placed wrong (you don't wear shooting badges with medals on dress blues). The worst part of his look is his nasty unshaven face.