“American Idol” winner Laine Hardy was arrested Friday after an ex-girlfriend accused the singer of bugging her dorm room, based on a warrant.
Hardy, who gained season 17 of the favored singing competitors in 2019, was booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on a cost of interception and disclosure of wire, digital or oral communication after LSU police arrested him, a college spokesperson informed NBC News.
It was not clear Friday if he had an legal professional within the case.
The arrest got here hours after Hardy mentioned in social media posts that he was cooperating with LSU police after a “sensitive” allegation was made towards him. He didn’t present further particulars.
A spokesperson for LSU confirmed there was an “active investigation” with the varsity’s police division that concerned the singer however declined to debate the case Thursday night time.
According to the warrant, police had been known as to Azalea Hall on April 7 after the ex-girlfriend found a recording system in her room.
“The victim stated that after googling the device she learned it to be a VR-500 Voice Activated Recorder,” the warrant states. “The victim reported that she believes the person whom left the record there to be her ex-boyfriend/Defendant (Laine Hardy.)”
She informed authorities that she and Hardy dated from November 2021 till February. Hardy, 21, was raised in Livingston, Louisiana, east of Baton Rouge, the place LSU is situated. He isn’t a pupil on the college, based on the college.
“The victim advised that on the weekend of Feb 18th she found a fake Instagram account on the Defendant’s phone that he used to cover up that he was illegally recording her when he was not around,” the warrant states. “Note that the Defendant had information about the victim and her actions during Christmas break that was not known to the Defendant.”
The lady mentioned she “immediately confronted him to which he admitted to her that he left a ‘bug’ in her room but later discarded it in his pond,” based on the warrant.
The recordings from February occurred in about five-hour intervals, the warrant states.
In the primary recording from Feb. 10, audible sounds are heard corresponding to autos, strolling, getting into an elevator and speaking amongst folks together with “what sounds to be the Defendant occur,” based on the warrant. “Note the Defendant is a music recording artist, popular for winning American Idol and has a very distinguishable voice. The Defendant’s name, Laine, is also being heard said on several occasions.”
On one other recording, dated Feb. 20, the warrant mentioned the “victim is overheard telling someone about how she figured out the Defendant was recording her and she doesn’t know if the ‘bug’ is still in the room.”
In the posts, Hardy mentioned he understood “that my career has thrust me into the public spotlight, and I embrace that wholeheartedly as my entire world belongs to my music and my fans.”
He added: “However, due to the sensitive nature of this allegation, I humbly ask for privacy at this time. I have utmost respect for the law and will assist in their investigation as needed moving forward.”