The Volokh Conspiracy - Criminal Mischief:

Not your typical, everyday charge of "criminal mischief":

PITTSBURGH -- Police have flagged a man for an illegal quarterback sneak.

Authorities said Brian Jackson, 31, dated two women by pretending to be Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger and Brian St. Pierre.

Jackson, arrested Friday, was charged with harassment for allegedly continuing to contact both women after they learned of the ruses. He was also charged with criminal mischief for allegedly ruining a Steelers jersey owned by one of the women's neighbors when he signed his worthless rendition of Roethlisberger's autograph on it. The jersey was worth $75 before it was signed, police said.

Here's the interesting legal theory in the case--by signing the jersey with his worthless "autograph" he ruined a $75 jersey, thereby giving rise to a criminal mischief charge.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette adds:

He's not 6-foot-5. He's not 23. He doesn't wear No. 7. And he doesn't have a goatee. In fact, Brian Jackson doesn't resemble Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in any way.

What I want to know is who is this supposed Stiller fan who owns a Roethlisberger jersey--but doesn't even know what Roethlisberger looks like?

	[Todd Zywicki, July 22, 2005 at 4:30pm] Trackbacks Criminal Mischief: Not your typical, everyday charge of "criminal mischief": PITTSBURGH -- Police have flagged a man for an illegal quarterback sneak. Authorities said Brian Jackson, 31, dated two women by pretending to be Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger and Brian St. Pierre. Jackson, arrested Friday, was charged with harassment for allegedly continuing to contact both women after they learned of the ruses. He was also charged with criminal mischief for allegedly ruining a Steelers jersey owned by one of the women's neighbors when he signed his worthless rendition of Roethlisberger's autograph on it. The jersey was worth $75 before it was signed, police said. Here's the interesting legal theory in the case--by signing the jersey with his worthless "autograph" he ruined a $75 jersey, thereby giving rise to a criminal mischief charge. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette adds: He's not 6-foot-5. He's not 23. He doesn't wear No. 7. And he doesn't have a goatee. In fact, Brian Jackson doesn't resemble Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in any way. What I want to know is who is this supposed Stiller fan who owns a Roethlisberger jersey--but doesn't even know what Roethlisberger looks like?