Man who streamed fight on Facebook Live sentenced to jail

Posted on May 23, 2018

Michael Burton pleaded guilty to broadcasting the beating of a partially nude teenage girl on Facebook Live. (McLean County Jail)

By Greg Halbleib

NORMAL – A Bloomington man has been sentenced to six months in jail for video streaming a fight between two women during which one woman became exposed.

Michael Burton, 26, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to unlawful video recording at a residence, a Class 4 felony, and was sentenced to 180 days in jail and 30 months probation. A misdemeanor obscenity charge was dropped.

Prosecutors said Burton was in an apartment in Normal in November of last year when the apartment occupant, Betty Vo, now 22, and a 17-year-old female fought. During the fight, the 17-year-old’s dress came up over her hips several times and was seen on the 10-minute-long Facebook Live video streamed by Burton. Vo told investigators she did not know the video existed until afterwards.

Vo pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery in February and was sentenced to 60 hours of public service and 24 months court supervision. Another woman present during the incident, Gabrielle Shanahan, 19, of Bloomington, was charged with illegal consumption of alcohol.

Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected].

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