A US man's life has been spared from spending 99 years in jail after a selfie posted to Facebook by his mother was used to exonerate him.
In September 2017, Cristopher Precopia from Georgetown, Texas was arrested on charges of first-degree burglary of a habitation and intent to commit additional felonies.
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An affidavit for arrest claims Mr Precopia's ex told police her former boyfriend "came towards her in an aggressive manner and pushed her to the ground, punched her in the face and cut her with a box cutter".
But Mr Precopia knew his innocence - and thanks to a photo posted by his mother, he could prove it.
On the night of the alleged incident, the 21-year-old was with his family in an Austin hotel more than an hour away from his ex's house.
A photo posted on Facebook, with a timestamp, was enough evidence to prove his innocence.
Speaking to KVUE, Mr Precopia's mother said she had luckily checked in on Facebook when they arrived at the hotel and taken the photo - the same time of the alleged attack.
His mother also told KVUE that he had not spoken to his ex in two years, but that their break-up was unfriendly.
It took nine months and US$34,000 (NZ$50,000) in lawyer fees to clear his name of the charges, and Mr Precopia had his application to join the army rejected due to the charges.
Newshub.
