An individual from Florida finds himself incarcerated after being accused of using AI technology to create an indecent image of a teenage colleague at an upscale country club.
Thomas Christopher Ball, aged 49, is facing a trio of felony charges. These include distributing inappropriate material to a minor, improper use of a communication device, and creating altered sexual images of a recognizable individual. This is according to legal documents reviewed by Fox News Digital.
Investigators claim that while employed at Boca West Country Club, Ball and the 17-year-old victim had some contact through social media, during which he allegedly sent her inappropriate messages, as detailed in a probable cause affidavit accessed by Fox News Digital.
Ball, also 49, is charged in Boca Raton, Florida, with three felonies involving distributing harmful material to a minor, misuse of a communication device, and creating altered sexual imagery of a known person, based on court records sourced by Fox News Digital. (Courtesy of Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office)
According to court filings, Ball purportedly proposed giving the minor $200 for her address, with the intent of performing oral sex on her.
In response, the victim began to avoid Ball, prompting him to question why she no longer interacted with or acknowledged him, as per authorities.
Thomas Christopher Ball and a 17-year-old coworker both worked at Boca West Country Club in Boca Raton, Fla. (iStock)
Police allege the confrontation led Ball to send an AI-generated explicit photo of the victim using a screenshot from a TikTok video she had posted. He allegedly threatened to expose more fake images if she continued to ignore him.
Authorities allege Thomas Christopher Ball followed a 17-year-old coworker on social media and sent inappropriate messages while both worked at Boca West Country Club in Florida, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Fox News Digital. (Google Maps)
The victim then reminded Ball that she is a minor, to which Ball allegedly replied that he knew and sent additional messages “stating he loved her, would do anything for her, wanted to take her to a spa and spoil her, and would give her $1,000 because of how much he loved her,” according to court documents.
Days later, a friend of Ball called 911 to alert authorities that Ball “came to her house to get a firearm to shoot the girl who made him lose his job,” authorities said.
Ball was arrested Friday and remains in custody at the Palm Beach County Jail. He is scheduled to appear in court on May 17.
“Oftentimes, the images that are created are fake, but the harm that comes of it is definitely real,” Nicole Bishop, division director with Palm Beach County Victims Services, told WPTV. “Victims who experience this particular kind of crime can go through a range of things. They can almost have symptoms of PTSD, losing sleep over the situation.”
“I think as the use of AI expands, we will have to look at seeing how our laws will be enhanced,” Bishop reportedly added.
Florida law now criminalizes creating, possessing or requesting altered, nonconsensual sexual images.
Ball’s attorney and Boca West Country Club did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
