Pranknet Practical Jokes Not as Funny After Criminal Charges are Filed
Following the recent arrest of two members of an online group that promotes practical jokes, fewer onlookers apparently may be finding the Pranknet antics funny.
Although the international group allegedly orchestrates its pranks over the telephone, members still can cause serious damage by talking strangers into acts of vandalism and bizarre behavior, according to the Smoking Gun.
A 19-year-old Texas man, for instance, has been criminally charged with terrorizing and criminal damage to property after allegedly persuading a McDonald’s employee to “test” a fire extinguisher system and then evacutate the restaurant and break windows to ventilate the “toxic” fumes, according to the Lufkin Daily News.
Authorities in Lufkin focused on James Tyler Markle as a suspect, the newspaper reports, after reading an earlier Smoking Gun post about another similar prank allegedly orchestrated by Markle.
Additional and related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Hacker Gets 5 Years for Prank 911 Calls Resulting in SWAT Team Raids”
KTRE: “Lufkin Police arrest alleged ‘Prankster’”
Lexington Herald-Leader: “Texas teenager a suspect in Lexington hotel prank”
