NC State AI Porn Case: Man Charged for Targeting Sorority Members
A 23-year-old guy named Hayne Beard, a recent NC State grad from Philadelphia,
Alright, let’s cut through the noise and get to the heart of this disturbing story out of North Carolina State University. A 23-year-old guy named Hayne Beard, a recent NC State grad from Philadelphia, has been slapped with two counts of misdemeanor stalking after allegedly using AI to create and post pornographic images of dozens of sorority women on a website called EroMe. This isn’t just some tech prank—it’s a gross violation of privacy that’s left a lot of students shaken. Here’s the breakdown of what happened, why it matters, and where things stand.
What Went Down
Back in October 2024, NC State police got wind of a messed-up situation: someone was posting AI-generated porn featuring the faces of real sorority members, superimposed onto nude bodies in explicit acts. According to court documents, at least 28 women were targeted, with their names even included in the titles of photo albums labeled things like “NC State” and “college sorority s****” on EroMe, a site known for hosting user-uploaded adult content. The images were reported on October 21, 2024, by a student who spotted them and alerted authorities. By November 1, a search warrant confirmed the scale—28 victims, many from NC State’s Panhellenic community.
Beard, who graduated in 2024, was arrested on April 14, 2025, and posted a $2,400 bond the next day. The charges stem from his alleged actions on August 11, 2024, when he reportedly uploaded these deepfake images, knowing they’d cause “substantial emotional distress.” WRAL News tried reaching out to him for comment, but he didn’t pick up or call back. Meanwhile, NC State Police say more charges could be coming as they dig deeper into the case.
The Legal Angle
Here’s where it gets tricky. North Carolina passed a law in December 2024, pushed by state Sen. Amy Galey, that makes creating AI-generated sexualized images of someone without consent a felony. Problem is, Beard’s actions happened before the law kicked in, so he’s facing lesser stalking charges instead. Wake County DA Lorrin Freeman told WRAL that it takes time for laws to catch up with tech like this. She’s got a point—AI’s moving faster than lawmakers can keep up. Still, distributing nonconsensual porn is illegal in NC and could carry up to 25 months in prison as a class H felony, per the Charlotte Observer.
This case isn’t isolated. Across the U.S., law enforcement’s cracking down on AI-generated explicit content. In May 2024, a Wisconsin man was charged with creating over 13,000 AI images of minors, facing up to 70 years in prison. Closer to home, a North Carolina child psychiatrist got 40 years for similar AI crimes. The feds are clear: AI-generated or not, this stuff is treated like child sexual abuse material when minors are involved. For adults, like in this NC State case, it’s a gray area that states are scrambling to address.
How NC State’s Handling It
NC State didn’t sit on their hands. When the Fraternity and Sorority Life office caught wind of this in October, they teamed up with the Women’s Center, Student Legal Services, and campus police to support the victims. They sent a letter to affected students, saying, “You’ve done nothing wrong. You didn’t deserve this.” The university’s offering no-cost counseling, legal resources, and drop-in hours at the Women’s Center in Greek Village. They’re also working with police to investigate, though they’re keeping tight-lipped about details since it’s an ongoing case.
The impact’s ripple effect is real. The letter acknowledged that this could trigger trauma or make women feel unsafe, especially in the sorority community. It’s not just about the 28 known victims—there’s a broader fear about privacy and who might be next.
Why This Matters
This case is a wake-up call about AI’s dark side. Tools like Stable Diffusion, which was used in similar cases, can churn out hyper-realistic deepfakes in seconds. It’s not just a tech issue; it’s a cultural one. As Campbell University law prof Lucas Osborn told CBS17, these programs make it “much easier” to create and spread this kind of content. And when it’s posted on sites like EroMe, it’s not just a one-off—it’s out there, potentially forever.
The NC State case also highlights how slow the legal system is to adapt. While states like California and Florida have laws targeting deepfake porn, many don’t, leaving victims in a lurch. On the federal level, there’s no specific law for nonconsensual deepfakes of adults, though the DEFIANCE Act of 2024 is gaining traction in Congress. Until then, it’s a patchwork of state laws and creative prosecutions.
What’s Next
NC State Police are still investigating, and more charges could drop if they uncover additional victims or accomplices. Beard’s case will likely hinge on proving intent to cause distress, which the warrants suggest he knew would happen. As for the victims, they’re getting support, but the emotional toll of having your image weaponized like this isn’t something counseling alone can fix.
If you or someone you know is dealing with something similar, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is at 1-800-799-7233. For more on the case, check out WRAL’s coverage or WFMY News 2’s report. This story’s still unfolding, so keep an eye out for updates.
Here are more articles you can read:
Iknowai
Iknowai
Iknowai
Share this with people you want to be well informed.
