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Meet Jules Bahler, a 21-year-old accused bank robber who joins the Dumb Criminals Hall of Fame. He redefines "selfie" to mean self-incrimination.
By striking a proud pose at his bathroom mirror and then posting it Wednesday on his Facebook page, Bahler waived one of his constitutional rights -- the one that says "no person . . . shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself."
Police say this weapon, posted on the suspect's Facebook page Wednesday, matches one seen in a Bay City bank security video that same day.
He's in custody because the above photo, the one at right and two others posted Wednesday connect him to three recent bank robberies in Michigan, including one that day, authorities say.
Mark Hicks covers the case in The Detroit News, where he quips that Bahler's "next Facebook update could be: 'Going to prison.' ”
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI Oakland County Violent Gang Task Force had been investigating the crimes reported Feb. 26 at a Genisys Credit Union in Pontiac; March 4 at a Bank of America in Pontiac; and March 5 at a Chemical Bank in Bay City. . . .
In the last incident, the suspect “displayed what appeared to be a black submachine gun and demanded money,” the [criminal] complaint read.
On Thursday, an investigator learned from a Oakland County Sheriff’s sergeant that a Facebook page for Bahler showed pictures of him with what appeared to be the weapon and clothes matching those worn in the robberies.
The suspect's status update with the four snaps says: "Bought my first house and chopper today. Life's great."
Under the post, a friend using the screen name "King Machete" shares advice that wasn't heeded: "U tripping brotha. I wouldn't show that shit off like that. Cops be watching this shit brotha. But I love that gun brotha. Use to have one, but I burned it out too much. Had to get rid of it."
Friday's arrest came two days after the 21-year-old suspect posted this selfie.
The alleged bandit helpfully handed detectives more evidence online, Hicks adds:
His Facebook page also featured a picture of a house in Pontiac he claimed he had just bought.
On Friday, the FBI and Oakland County Sheriff’s Office staked out the address. When Bahler left in a vehicle, he was stopped. Inside a duffle bag at his feet was the black submachine gun, the criminal complaint said.
He reportedly confessed to the crimes that netted about $15,300 and authorities found some of the clothing worn during the hold-ups, according to The News.
