Former High School Athletic Director Sentenced for AI-Generated Hate Speech
Baltimore, MD – Dazhon Darien, the former athletic director at Pikesville High School, received a four-month jail sentence on Monday following a plea deal regarding the creation of a racist and antisemitic audio clip that impersonated the school’s principal. The 32-year-old Darien pleaded guilty to disturbing school operations, a misdemeanor, amidst a series of more severe charges including theft and stalking.
Darien’s plea was entered as an Alford plea, allowing him to maintain his innocence while acknowledging the evidence against him. The fabricated audio, which contained derogatory remarks about students, was intended to tarnish Principal Eric Eiswert’s reputation. The clip aired in January 2024, igniting significant backlash within the Baltimore County Public Schools district, which serves over 100,000 students. The controversy led to threats against Eiswert, who was subsequently placed on administrative leave.
According to court documents, tensions between Darien and Eiswert escalated in late 2023 after conversations regarding the non-renewal of Darien’s contract based on performance issues. The audio clip was created shortly after Darien faced scrutiny over a questionable payment he made to his roommate, purportedly for coaching duties. Investigators revealed that Darien had employed artificial intelligence tools to generate the false recording, raising concerns about the growing accessibility of such technology.
After his sentencing, Darien was returned to federal custody, where he is facing separate charges related to child exploitation and the possession of child pornography. As legal proceedings continue, the implications of this case highlight the risks posed by emerging AI technologies, which have made it increasingly easy to produce deceptive content. The Baltimore County Public Schools declined to comment on the ongoing situation.
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