10 Normal People Who Became Criminals By Accident

10 Normal People Who Became Accidental Criminals

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at individuals who didn’t set out to commit a crime per se, but their actions accidentally led to legal trouble. We’re excluding people who were wrongfully accused of crimes they weren’t involved in.

John Gomes

In 2017, a fire spread throughout Cohoes, New York, damaging over twenty buildings, with three destroyed. Thankfully, no lives were lost, and any reported injuries were minimal. The fire still had a devastating effect on property, causing no less than $4 million in damage. The flame originated from John Gomes, who was inspired by the reality series, “Forged in Fire.” Starting a barrel fire in his backyard, Gomes aimed to forge a sword. He failed to contain the flame, with high winds spreading it. Gomes pleaded guilty to fourth-degree arson, receiving a $600,000 fine and a sentence of one year behind bars. A cautionary tale for anyone who tries to replicate what they see on TV, especially if it involves fire.

Brittney Griner

With three Olympic gold medals to her name, Brittney Griner is one of the most decorated players in the Women’s National Basketball Association. Her status didn’t matter when Griner was detained at Russia’s Sheremetyevo International Airport in 2022. Customs uncovered less than a gram of hash oil in her vaporizer cartridges. Although Griner had been legally prescribed medicinal cannabis in Arizona, Russia has a zero-tolerance policy. Even if this was a simple mistake, Griner was charged with drug smuggling. She received a nine-year sentence following a guilty plea. Many felt Griner’s punishment was too harsh, but that may’ve been the point, giving Russia a playing chip. Griner ultimately served ten months, being released thanks to a prisoner exchange with Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.

Marissa Alexander

In 2010, Marissa Alexander fired what she claimed to be a “warning shot” at her estranged husband, Rico Gray. According to Alexander, Gray had been abusive and had sent life-threatening text messages. Supposedly struggling to escape, Alexander grabbed a gun from her car and fired. The bullet didn’t hit Gray or his children, who were also in the house. Assuming this truly was supposed to be a warning shot, there was a case to be made that Gray’s intent fell under Florida’s stand-your-ground law. That’s not how the courts saw it. Despite reports of domestic violence on Gray’s part, Alexander was sentenced to twenty years. This was reduced to three years served plus two years under house arrest after Alexander pleaded guilty to aggravated assault.

Anne Sacoolas

Countless lives have been lost due to reckless driving, making those behind the wheel accidental criminals. Harry Dunn’s untimely death stands out for a few reasons. The young British man was on his motorcycle when he was struck by a car on the wrong side of the road. The other vehicle’s driver was Anne Sacoolas, a United States Intelligence Community employee. Her husband was a CIA operative stationed at RAF Croughton. Being American, Sacoolas was used to driving on the other side of the road. Claiming she wasn’t trained to drive in the UK, Sacoolas fled home, claiming diplomatic immunity. Amid pushback, Sacoolas virtually entered a guilty plea, receiving an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, as well as a year disqualified from driving.

KDND Management

In 2007, the KDND radio show, “Morning Rave,” held an on-air contest: “Hold Your Wee for a Wii.” 18 participants drank as much water as they could handle without urinating. The one who went the longest without going to the bathroom would win a Nintendo Wii. Sounds gross, but also like a fun, goofy stunt. Jennifer Strange came in second place, reportedly drinking around two gallons. Strange experienced pain on her way home, where her mother later found her dead. Although the station had been warned about potential health risks, they weren’t taken seriously enough. A wrongful death suit was filed against KDND and parent company Entercom. Strange’s family would be awarded $16.5 million, with Entercom deemed liable for the now-defunct station’s employees.

James Arthur Ray

Starting as a telemarketer, James Arthur Ray made a name for himself as an author and motivational speaker. While his self-help seminars were designed to enrich lives, Ray’s “Spiritual Warrior” retreat had the opposite effect on three souls. In 2009, Ray hosted what was supposed to be a vision quest exercise in Yavapai County. Not only did Ray’s unconventional sweat lodge put more than ten participants in the hospital, but two died, followed by a third victim, who had been in a coma. It was discovered that Ray’s so-called sweat lodge lacked the required building permits, leading to him being found guilty of negligent homicide on three counts. Ray only served about two years, although he passed away in 2025.

Laura Plummer

Laura Plummer, a British woman, only intended to visit Egypt for two weeks in 2017. Her stay was extended when almost 300 Tramadol tablets were found in her suitcase. Plummer claimed that the painkillers were for her Egyptian partner’s back pain. What Plummer apparently didn’t realize was that these pills were widely prohibited in Egypt, despite being legal with a prescription in the UK. Accused of smuggling, Plummer was sentenced to three years' incarceration. Plummer would be freed after fourteen months thanks to a presidential pardon. Returning home in 2019, Plummer was grateful to be free, but she described the ordeal as a “nightmare.” She vowed to “never set foot in an airport again.”

Conrad Murray

When Michael Jackson suddenly died in June 2009, many questioned how this could happen. The answer resided with Conrad Murray, Jackson’s personal physician. The iconic singer had been struggling with sleep, leading to Murray giving him a deadly dose of propofol. Jackson had several other drugs in his system at the time. The doctor wouldn’t realize his fatal error until he discovered Jackson unresponsive, with paramedics soon pronouncing him dead. Murray was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter, serving just under two years of a four-year sentence. Although Murray’s medical licenses were suspended, he’s since opened the DCM Medical Institute overseas. Even if Jackson’s death was an accident, Murray would go down in notoriety as the man who killed the King of Pop.

Patty Hearst

The granddaughter of newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst, this heiress dominated headlines when she went missing in 1974. The Symbionese Liberation Army, a far-left militant group, was behind her kidnapping. Although Hearst claims she was kept in a closet for weeks, she was apparently given a choice: leave or join her captors. Hearst stayed, participating in a bank robbery and other crimes before being arrested nineteen months after her abduction. It was widely debated what led Hearst to this, with reasons ranging from brainwashing to Stockholm syndrome. There were also conflicting accounts of what happened to Hearst during her time with the SLA. In any case, Hearst’s initial 35-year sentence was limited to seven years before Jimmy Carter commuted it to 22 months served.

Ryan Holle

When Ryan Holle loaned his car to a friend, William Allen, he had no idea that he’d be roped into a murder trial. Allen and three others used Holle’s car to drive to Christine Snyder’s home. What started as a burglary involving marijuana and a few hundred dollars turned deadly. One of the intruders, Charles Miller, discovered a shotgun in the house, using it to kill Jessica Snyder. Not only were the intruders given life sentences without parole, but Holle was also convicted of first-degree murder. Despite not even being present, Holle supposedly knew the others were contemplating a burglary. Some still argued that Holle didn’t deserve the same sentence as them. It was reduced before his release in 2024, after almost two decades.

Can you think of any people who became accidental criminals? Let us know in the comments.