Skyrim Username Error Leads to Year-Long Imprisonment for Innocent Man

After spending 18 months behind bars, Brandon Klayme was exonerated in late July by a court in Nova Scotia, Canada. Klayme was arrested in 2020 on charges related to child pornography and sentenced in 2023, with the case hinging on a single underscore in a reference to The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim.

Authorities in Wisconsin became confused six years ago while searching for a suspect with the username fus__ro_dah. This individual was accused of possessing child pornography and luring a minor, using a Kik username that referenced the iconic Unrelenting Force shout from Bethesda’s beloved fantasy RPG. However, the police overlooked a crucial detail: the suspect’s username had two underscores after “fus,” while Klayme’s username featured only one.

When authorities obtained the suspect’s IP address through a subpoena, they mistakenly linked it to Klayme due to the similarity in their Kik names. Despite the discrepancy, Klayme was sentenced to 18 months in prison and an additional 18 months of probation after a trial in 2023.

It wasn’t until 2026, during the appeal process, that Klayme’s defense team identified the username difference. The victim had provided a description of the perpetrator back in 2020, but the conviction was primarily based on Klayme’s digital account.

The appeal court recently determined that there was no connection between Klayme and the underage victim, concluding that he was not responsible for the illicit materials or conversations. Investigators now believe the username actually belongs to someone in California.

Klayme stated in an affidavit for the appeal that the police findings “contained a subtle mistake that changed the course of my life.”

In July 2026, the Nova Scotia panel reviewing the case declared that Klayme “should never have been charged, let alone convicted.” He has since been acquitted of all charges.

In a related development, a man from North Carolina pleaded guilty to the crime in late June.