“Brian Hogan, the then 21yo student who found an iPhone 4 prototype in a Silicon Valley bar back in 2010, is telling the story and answering questions in an ‘Ask me anything’ thread on Reddit,” Ben Lovejoy reports for 9to5Mac.
“Hogan found the phone on the bar of the Gourmet Haus Staudt in Redwood City after it was accidentally left there by Apple engineer Gray Powell, and arranged to sell it to Gizmodo for $8000 – a sum he says he never received,” Lovejoy reports. “Hogan, and his friend Robert Sage Wallower who helped arrange the sale to Gizmodo, pleaded ‘no contest’ to charges of misappropriation of property and each sentenced to 40 hours community service and a fine of $125. No charges were filed against any Gizmodo staff.”
Read more in the full article here.
Related articles:
iPhone theft suspects get probation, public service, each have to pay Apple $250 in restitution – October 12, 2011
Two suspects in iPhone 4 prototype case plead not guilty – September 1, 2011
Apple may pursue a civil suit against Gawker Media over iPhone 4 prototype leak – August 22, 2011
Gizmodo gets off the hook in prototype iPhone 4 imbroglio; men who sold it charged – August 10, 2011
Irony: Gizmodo’s Brian Lam leaves phone in restaurant; grateful an honest patron turned it in – August 21, 2010
D.A. withdraws search warrant after deal with Gizmodo’s Chen – July 16, 2010
Court begins examining Gizmodo’s Jason Chen’s computers, devices for 4G iPhone info – June 03, 2010
D8: Steve Jobs discusses passing Microsoft in market cap, AT&T, Gizmodo, much more (with video) – June 02, 2010
Apple claims huge loss over iPhone leak; knew who sold prototype to Gizmodo same day story broke – May 17, 2010
Judge unseals Gizmodo-4G iPhone prototype search warrant – May 14, 2010
Jon Stewart blows it, calls Apple ‘Appholes’ over Gizmodo’s 4G iPhone imbroglio (with video) – April 29, 2010
Rush Limbaugh: The fascinating case of the Gizmodo guys and Apple’s 4G iPhone – April 28, 2010
Gizmodo editor Jason Chen retains criminal defense lawyer in 4G IPhone prototype imbroglio – April 28, 2010
Why Gizmodo could be in deep doo doo over outing of Apple’s 4G iPhone prototype – April 28, 2010
4G iPhone: EFF criticizes police conduct in Gizmodo raid, says invalid warrant used – April 27, 2010
Did Apple call the cops on Gizmodo? – April 27, 2010
Police may allege that Gizmodo committed felony in 4G iPhone imbroglio – April 26, 2010
Police seize Gizmodo’s Jason Chen’s Macs, iPad, more after he posted next-gen iPhone video and pics – April 26, 2010
Police probe how lost next-gen Apple iPhone prototype ended up being purchased by Gizmodo – April 24, 2010
Did Gizmodo break the law with its 4G iPhone story? – April 21, 2010
Gizmodo posts videos, photos of ‘Apple’s next iPhone’ that was lost in a California bar (w/ video) – April 19, 2010
For some reason I still don’t believe this story.
He’s a their, not very much of a stretch to assume he’s also a liar.
The “finding” versus “stealing” part is not established.
Anyway, this guy knowingly was selling property which did not belong to him, which is equivalent of theft.
In California, the law says that if you find property that you suspect is worth $100 or more, and you cannot determine the owner, you must turn it in to the local law enforcement (police/sheriff) and leave it in their custody for 30 days. If it remains unclaimed after that time, it is yours.
If you can determine the owner, you must make every reasonable effort to contact the owner and return their property; if that fails, you must treat it as “unknown owner” property, above.
If you don’t follow the above rules, it IS theft.
He obviously didn’t follow the rules.
My wife left her iPhone briefly on the little table next to the credit card reader at Target one day. The 50-something guy behind her noticed and grabbed it (not some kid). She noticed as soon as she got close to the exit and walked back the 30-some feet to the checkout and it was gone (the thief walked right past her!). Target security was great – they got footage of it and indeed tracked the guy out to his car leaving the lot (grabbed the license plate info). I tracked it using Find my iPhone and once the police got there I showed them exactly where it was (along with a Street View image of the house itself). They got it back…but since she had left the iPhone on the table it was not a robbery – basically she had “abandoned” it and they had no probable cause to arrest the guy (who was “not here” when they knocked at the door holding an image of him) nor to gain entry to the house. Basically it was property that was “found”, taken some 5 miles away and recovered. No charges whatsoever…but all the same we got it back. Crazy.
What state was this in? I’d contact your local state and federal legislative officials and inform them of this rediculous situation.
Two words, plea bargain.
The linked article says he now owns an Android phone. Punishment enough!
Android is theft and he’s a thief. Perfect match.
So, Gizmodo didn’t have to pay Hogan anything but still made a fortune off him?
At least one of the parties got what they deserved.
Isn’t this guy in jail?
I already had lost all respect for Gizmodo after the CES incident whee they walked around and remotely turned off all monitors… This was just a confirmation… They destroyed the fun for te whole world and Apple for an opertunity for a juicy story.