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Christopher \u201cCJ\u201d Precopia found himself at the center of a nightmare when he was falsely accused of a brutal attack against his ex-girlfriend. But a casual selfie, captured by his mother, provided the critical evidence needed to clear the young man\u2019s name, freeing him from a lifetime behind bars.<\/p>\n
On the morning of September 22, 2017, Christopher \u201cCJ\u201d Precopia clocked in for what seemed like a normal day at a lumber yard in Georgetown, Texas. By the end of the day, his life took a devastating turn when police officers arrived at his workplace and arrested him.<\/p>\n
The 21-year-old man was facing a possible 99-year prison sentence, and he couldn\u2019t figure out why.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m just spun around, handcuffs put on,\u201d CJ told ABC News affiliate KVUE. \u201cI had no idea who accused me of this, I had no idea why everything was happening, and I was lost.\u201d<\/p>\n
And then he learned his high school ex, Faith Cox \u2013 whom he hadn\u2019t seen in years \u2013 was leading the charge.<\/p>\n
According to the suspect\u2019s mother, Erin, CJ and the girl dated for about six weeks while her son was a 17-year-old high school senior, and she was a 15-year-old sophomore. She told ABC News that the breakup was not amicable.<\/p>\n
\u2018Assault with weapons\u2019
\nAccording to reports, Cox claimed that on the evening of September 20, 2017, around 7:20 p.m., her former high school sweetheart broke into her home in Temple and violently attacked her.<\/p>\n
ABC writes that the Temple Police Department followed up on \u201ca report of an assault with weapons,\u201d and were told by the alleged victim that CJ \u201ccame towards her in an aggressive manner and pushed her to the ground, punched her in the face and cut her with a box cutter.\u201d<\/p>\n
The reporting officer also said he observed cuts and injuries to the Cox\u2019s face and hands, which he said were likely made by a box cutter, the weapon that according to the teenager, was used by CJ to carve an \u201cX\u201d into her chest, and for cutting her face.<\/p>\n
\u201cI could hear the slices being made,\u201d the Cox claimed in a handwritten statement to police.<\/p>\n
99 problems
\nDespite having no physical evidence connecting him to the crime, CJ was arrested and charged with first-degree felony burglary of a habitation with intent to commit additional felonies, an offense punishable by up to 99 years if convicted, Flores said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was constantly fearful as to what could happen the next day. I was going to sleep hoping I wouldn\u2019t wake up. Just to get away from it,\u201d A teary-eyed CJ told ABC.<\/p>\n
With his freedom hanging in the balance, the man was taken to the Williamson County Jail, where his parents managed to secure his release by posting a $150,000 bond. What followed was a relentless fight to prove his innocence \u2013 a battle that would ultimately rely on an unexpected source of evidence.<\/p>\n
Game-changing selfie
\nDespite knowing he was innocent, CJ spent the next nine months living in fear of spending a lifetime behind bars: \u201cThat\u2019s what I was scared of most, just going to prison for no reason,\u201d the man said.<\/p>\n
Then a piece of casual evidence turned the case around \u2013 a selfie taken by his mother.<\/p>\n
The snap, taken on the same day Erin\u2019s son was accused of the vicious assault, showed her, CJ, and a group of friends at the Renaissance Austin Hotel, about 70 miles away from Cox\u2019s home.<\/p>\n
And at 7:02 p.m. \u2013 only 18 minutes before the alleged attack \u2013 she shared the image on Facebook, a digital footprint with crucial timestamp and geolocation data that served as irrefutable proof that CJ could not have committed the crime.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is awesome. By the grace of God [ex-girlfriend] said it happened on the day when I can totally, 100 percent, know where he was,\u201d Erin said.<\/p>\n
Nine months after CJ\u2019s arrest, the evidence was presented to the prosecutors, who subsequently dismissed the charge \u201cin the interest of justice.\u201d<\/p>\n
The accuser had informed the police that she and CJ had a troubled relationship when they dated in high school several years ago, which she cited as the reason for reporting the alleged assault.<\/p>\n
Justice served
\nAnd then in December 2018, Cox was charged with filing a false report.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs soon as I saw her mugshot, I broke down crying. It was a wave of emotions that hit me,\u201d CJ told Fox News. \u201cI couldn\u2019t really contain myself cause of the pure joy of her finally being brought to justice.\u201d<\/p>\n