Christopher “CJ” Precopia’s world was turned upside down when he was accused of a violent crime he didn’t commit. What started as a normal day at work ended with him being handcuffed and facing the possibility of spending nearly a century in prison. The only thing that ultimately saved him? A casual selfie taken by his mother, a photo that carried a time and location stamp strong enough to shatter the entire case against him.
On the morning of September 22, 2017, CJ began his shift at a lumber yard in Georgetown, Texas. It seemed like any other day—until the police showed up and arrested him on serious charges. The 21-year-old had no idea what was happening. He was overwhelmed and confused, with no clue why he was being taken into custody or who had accused him of anything.
Speaking to ABC News affiliate KVUE, CJ recalled the terrifying moment: “I’m just spun around, handcuffs put on. I had no idea who accused me of this, I had no idea why everything was happening, and I was lost.” The answer came as a shock. His accuser was Faith Cox, a girl he had dated briefly in high school and hadn’t seen in years.
CJ’s mother, Erin, explained that he and Faith had dated when he was 17 and she was 15. Their relationship lasted only six weeks, and it didn’t end well. But neither of them could have imagined that years later, that short-lived relationship would come back to haunt them in such a devastating way.
According to Faith, on the night of September 20, 2017, CJ broke into her home in Temple, Texas, around 7:20 p.m. and violently assaulted her. She claimed that he pushed her to the ground, punched her, and used a box cutter to slash her face and carve an “X” into her chest. She told police she could “hear the slices being made.” The responding officer noted cuts on her face and hands that seemed consistent with her story.
Despite the serious nature of the accusations, there was no physical evidence linking CJ to the scene. Still, he was charged with first-degree felony burglary with intent to commit further felonies, a charge that carries a potential sentence of up to 99 years. He was booked into Williamson County Jail, and his parents posted a $150,000 bond to get him out. But CJ was far from free. The weight of the charges hung over him, and the fear of wrongful conviction consumed him. “I was constantly fearful as to what could happen the next day. I was going to sleep hoping I wouldn’t wake up. Just to get away from it,” he said through tears in an interview with ABC.
The emotional and legal nightmare continued for nine long months. During that time, CJ and his family fought desperately to clear his name. And then, unexpectedly, came the breakthrough. On the night CJ was accused of the assault, his mother had taken a selfie. In it, CJ was pictured with his mom and a group of friends at the Renaissance Austin Hotel—roughly 70 miles from where the alleged incident took place.
What made the photo even more important was its timestamp. Erin had uploaded the photo to Facebook at exactly 7:02 p.m.—just 18 minutes before Faith claimed the attack occurred. The time and geolocation data embedded in the image offered ironclad proof that CJ could not have been at the scene of the crime.
Erin later reflected on the unlikely evidence that saved her son: “This is awesome. By the grace of God, she said it happened on the day when I can totally, 100 percent, know where he was.” Nine months after his arrest, CJ’s legal team presented the selfie and its metadata to the prosecutors. After reviewing the evidence, the charge against him was dropped “in the interest of justice.”
Eventually, authorities came to the conclusion that the accusation was entirely fabricated. Faith Cox was charged in December 2018 with filing a false report. When CJ saw her mugshot, he described the moment as overwhelming. “As soon as I saw her mugshot, I broke down crying. It was a wave of emotions that hit me,” he told Fox News. “I couldn’t really contain myself because of the pure joy of her finally being brought to justice.”
Following the traumatic experience, CJ chose to move forward with his life by joining the Navy after completing college. But the scars of the experience remain. “It’s a struggle to go about your daily life knowing that anything could happen, just from somebody saying anything, [and it] can just ruin your life in an instant,” he said.
CJ’s story serves as a powerful reminder of both the flaws in the justice system and the unexpected ways technology can intervene. In this case, a simple selfie—a photo that might have otherwise been forgotten—became the key to justice. It’s a testament to the importance of digital evidence and the role social media can play in both uncovering the truth and protecting the innocent.
This case also raises larger questions about the reliability of eyewitness accounts and the need for solid evidence before making life-altering decisions. While the justice system aims to protect victims and punish criminals, CJ’s ordeal proves how easily a false accusation can turn an innocent person’s life into a nightmare. It’s a sobering example of how a single claim, when not properly vetted, can cost someone their reputation, freedom, and peace of mind.
What do you think about this incredible story of justice, perseverance, and the power of a mother’s instinct? Let us know your thoughts, and don’t forget to share this story with your friends so we can hear from them too.
