Facebook postings leading to arrests

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) - What you post on Facebook could have severe legal consequences. One Oregon teen learned that the hard way, after a status update landed him in jail.

Jacob Cox Brown was arrested by police in Astoria, Oregon following a status update that read: "Drivin drunk… classic ;) but to whoever's vehicle i hit i am sorry. :P"

The social networking site is becoming a resource for law enforcement looking to get tips to help solve crimes.

“I got to say the kid’s pretty stupid. I mean, Facebook is out in the open, there’s all kinds of stories of employers checking up on people. That way, it makes sense the cops would, too,” Kathy Jalowiec of Northampton said.

“They just kind of build up lots and lots of friends of people they never even met before, and they put the information out there and then information like this is going to get them in trouble,” Steven Sylvain of Southwick said.

In 2008, a Rhode Island man was sentenced to two years in prison after a drunk driving crash that seriously injured a 20-year-old woman. Pictures of the driver dressed as prisoner at Halloween party were posted on Facebook, two weeks after the crash.