An unfortunate series of events led to a Florida nurse being imprisoned twice, following allegations that her former partner concocted abusive messages, purporting they were from her.
Melissa Mullin Sims, aged 57, found herself in the unsettling confines of Collier County jail after her ex-boyfriend lodged domestic violence charges against her in November 2024, soon after the pair ended their relationship.
The relationship, which lasted intermittently for a year, saw the couple relocate to Naples from Delaware County, Pennsylvania. However, their breakup was anything but amicable.
Sims contends she was compelled to contact law enforcement when her ex allegedly trashed her condo, made off with her possessions, and refused to vacate the premises.
“When I finally reported him for stealing my credit cards, he turned the tables on me, resulting in my arrest for domestic violence,” she shared with the Naples Press.
Amid their volatile confrontation, Sims claimed her ex-partner resorted to self-infliction, reportedly scratching himself and hitting his own face, according to 6ABC.
When the cops arrived Sims was arrested on the spot for battery against him.
She spent the night in jail and a judge ordered her to stay away from her accuser, including calling or texting him.
Melissa Sims, 57, alleged her ex-boyfriend used AI generated texts to incriminate her for domestic abuse
Sims was arrested twice after her then-boyfriend accused her of battery and violating her bond
But a few months later, police came knocking to arrest her again for violating her bond.
‘Then came a second arrest based on a completely fabricated text message, which prosecutors never verified — even after subpoenaed cellphone records proved it never existed,’ she told the Press.
The allegedly fake text message referred to an incident during which Sims and her boyfriend had gone to the same pickleball court at the same time on Christmas Day 2024.
Sims’ ex called the police, claiming that she showed up next to him at Naples Pickleball Center and called him an ‘a**’, the Press reported.
Police verified that Sims was there, but witness testimonies found she had arrived hours prior and had not spoken to him.
But, incriminating AI texts sent after the incident were apparently enough to get Sims arrested yet again.
‘Haha you a**! The cops won’t arrest a woman on Xmas, but nice try, you piece of s***,’ read the message, which her partner allegedly claimed was from Sims.
Sims alleged that her ex slapped and scratched himself so that police would arrest her for battery
Sims claimed that county officials never verified the text messages before her arrest, per 6ABC.
‘Instead of protecting a domestic violence and financial-fraud victim, the system helped my abuser turn me into the defendant,’ she said.
Sims spent another hellish night in a Florida jail before being released pending trial.
As she awaited her day in court, Sims said she lost her part-time job at Naples Pickleball Center, was unable to practice as a nurse and was barred from returning to her condo for 19 days.
‘I’ve lost at least $100,000,’ she told the Press.
Eight months later, prosecutors dropped her bond violation in early 2025. In December 2025, she was acquitted of her battery charge.
Sims has since been acquitted of her battery charge and her bond violation was dropped
Sims is now advocating for more legislature surrounding AI, especially in the courtroom
Sims is now campaigning for Florida lawmakers to pass a ‘Melissa’s Law,’ which would ‘strengthen protections for victims, ensure accountability of law enforcement and prosecutors, and prevent misuse of digital and AI-generated evidence in Florida,’ according to the Collier Delegation.
She has become an advocate for stronger policies surrounding AI on her social media.
‘This is not just my story. This is a warning,’ she wrote. ‘AI and digital technology, when misused by devious people, can destroy lives if there are no safeguards in place.’
‘Right now, the law has not caught up with the technology—and law-abiding citizens are the ones paying the price.’
The Daily Mail has contacted Collier County Sheriff’s Office and Collier County Attorney’s Office for comment.
