Laine Hardy, the winner of season 17 of American Idol, was taken into custody on Friday after he allegedly placed listening devices in the college dorm of his ex-girlfriend, police said.
The 21-year-old Louisiana native is facing the felony charge of interception and disclosure of wire, electronic, or oral communication, according to Louisiana State University spokesman Ernie Ballard.
The Idol winner surrendered himself to authorities and was taken to the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison, according to a report.
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Hardy is not enrolled at LSU, the report noted.
He “has been and will continue to be completely cooperative with the Louisiana State University Police Department on this matter,” Hardy’s attorney, C. Frank Holthaus, said.
The alleged victim and her roommate said they uncovered the recording device in their dorm on April 6, according to the arrest warrant, and reported the incident to LSU police the next day.
The device was underneath her futon, and it resembled a phone charger, the report noted.
The woman said she believed that Hardy planted the device because he knew details about her that she had not told him.
Police went on to find 10 days of secret recordings, according to the report.
“The victim advised she immediately confronted him, to which he admitted to her that he left a ‘bug’ in her room but discarded it in his pond,” according to a police affidavit.
Hardy commented on the investigation in a post on social media.
“I understand that my career has thrust me into the public spotlight, and I embrace that wholeheartedly as my entire world belongs to my music and my fans,” he wrote. “However, due to the sensitive nature of this allegation, I humbly ask for privacy at this time. I have the utmost respect for the law and will assist in their investigation as needed moving forward.”
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If convicted of the charges, Hardy could face up to a 10-year prison sentence and a $10,000 fine, the report noted.
