14 DAY TRIAL // Earlier this week, the Internet made a star out of the unlikeliest man, a 30-year-old who had been arrested by the Stockton Police Department in California on weapons and street terrorism charges. Jeremy Meeks, you see, is one handsome fellow, and the visitors of the Facebook page where his mugshot was posted couldn’t help noticing that.
Meeks’ mugshot went up online on Facebook and, from there, he went on to unknowingly win over hearts all over the world. As of now, the pic, which you will also find available in full above, has tens of thousands of likes and shares, but also countless comments from women who simply find Meeks’ baby-blue eyes, full lips and manly jaw absolutely irresistible.
The fact that he was arrested for being such a “naughty boy,” as some of them put it, also seems to have its appeal because many of the ladies who posted comments think such a bad boy would be their ideal man.
“Naughty” doesn’t even begin to cover Meeks’ rap sheet: he’s 30 but he’s been in and out of courtrooms and jails since 2002, which is when he was first arrested for robbery and corporal injury to a child, after he beat up a 17-year-old. Also on his first arrest, he was identified as a gang member.
In the wake of all this publicity, his mother and sister are speaking out to set the record straight: yes, Jeremy is almost impossibly handsome (by some standards) but he is no thug. Katherine Angier, his mother, tells TMZ that her son is “being stereotyped” because of his old tattoos, which he got when he was part of a gang.
She is now raising money for his bail, which was initially set at $25,000 (€18,384) but has been upped at $900,000 (€661,827) in the meantime, arguing what a great injustice it would be if Meeks would be left in jail until the trial.
“Please help. My son was taken into custody on his way to work. He is a working man with a son. He is being stereotyped due to old tattoos. He's my son and he is so sweet. Please help him to get a fair trial or else he'll be railroaded,” she says.
Meeks’ sister says the only reason he had such a heavy arsenal in his car when he was arrested is because he used to be part of the Northside Gangster Crips gang. He isn’t anymore, but he still lives in fear of his life, which is why he’s carrying the guns and ammo with him, for protection.
As proof of his changed ways, the sister points out that Meeks is a practicing Christian for 7 years, a husband for 4 and the father of a little boy. That last part is bound to cause some heartbreak between the ladies who professed their undying love online after seeing his mugshot.
All efforts from Meeks’ mother to raise money for bail have had little success so far, so, at least for now, Dreamy McMug Shot stays behind bars.