Social media controversy has a way of escalating quickly, and the case of Dalton Eatherly—known online as “Chud the Builder”—is no exception. The controversial personality will remain in jail after a Davidson County judge revoked his bond on Wednesday, marking a significant turn in his legal troubles.
Chud the Builder faced the court on misdemeanor charges tied to an incident at a restaurant inside the Omni Hotel in downtown Nashville. He allegedly refused to stop streaming inside the establishment and later refused to pay his bill. But that’s just the beginning. Prosecutors spent much of the proceeding focused on a separate Montgomery County case, where Chud the Builder faces an attempted murder charge connected to a shooting outside the Montgomery County Courthouse. This is where things get serious—and why social media controversy sometimes crosses into criminal territory.
Prosecutors presented videos and social media posts to the judge that they characterized as violent and racist. Detective Michael Weber from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office testified that the material sounded “premeditative, like he’s going to kill somebody.” It’s the kind of evidence that shifts a case from online drama to real-world danger.
Defense attorney Jacob Fendley argued that the court should also consider threats Chud the Builder has received online. According to Fendley, some of those alleged threats even involved the online personality’s infant son. It’s a reminder that online spaces can be hostile to everyone involved, not just those accused of wrongdoing.
Still, the judge sided with prosecutors and revoked bond in the Davidson County case. Fendley has filed a motion to dismiss the Nashville charges, but the legal battle is far from over. Chud the Builder’s next Davidson County court date is set for June 25.
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