Yee’s Six‑Year Sentence: A Rough Verdict for a Controversial Blogger
When Singaporean internet icon Amos Yee walked into his Chicago courtroom on December 2, he had already got a lot on his plate. The young 23‑year‑old was facing two heavy accusations—child pornography and grooming—and his guilty plea landed him on the US jail roster for six years. Here’s the low‑down, without the legal jargon and with a splash of plain‑spoken flair.
What Went Wrong?
- Child Pornography (Class I Felony): Yee lured a 14‑year‑old girl into acting in “lewd” videos from February to July 2019. Under Illinois law, this is the second‑most serious offense, with a minimum of four years and a cap at fifteen. The plea deal sealed it at six.
- Grooming (WhatsApp Deployment): He used the messaging app to cajole the victim into sending photos that he then shared on the platform. The minimum jail term here was one year; the ceiling was three.
- Other Charges Tucked Out: Yee also had 16 ancillary child‑pornography accusations, but they were taken off the table as part of the plea negotiation.
The Victim’s Story
The girl’s age? 14 (born in 2004). The connection? Woke up in February ’19 via the Riot chat app where Yee began an “online courtship.” Over that half‑year, the exchange spanned from “show me your breasts” to role‑play fantasies. Assistant State’s Attorney Marcell Taylor laid it out: “He asked for explicit photos, skimpy selfies, and roleplay.” He added that Yee knew her age early on, and after the relationship fizzled, Yee didn’t just step aside—it harassed her.
After the Verdict
- Yee ordered no contact with the victim for two years post‑release.
- He sits away from the camera wearing a surgical mask and orange prison jumpsuit, nodding a thin “I understand” to Judge Carol Howard.
- Judge Howard spiked a caution: guilty pleas might get him deported, banned from future US entry, or stripped of chances for naturalization.
- The conviction could also knock out his chances to get rented housing, work, and even a driver’s licence.
Background & Prior Moves
Yee’s record in Singapore isn’t clean. He was jailed twice there—once for harassment and religious slurs in 2015, and again in 2016 for repeat offenses. In 2016 he crossed the Atlantic to the United States; the next year he secured asylum.
Final Notes
The headline deliveries were six years in prison’ and a two‑year “no‑contact” order. Even for a blogger who’s been in the headlines for free‑speech debacles, the law here has no soft-edges. Bring the truth, bring the punishment. The story, originally staged by The Straits Times, reads as a stark reminder that online dreams can easily become legal nightmares. © 2025 All rights reserved.
