Man with Autism from Virginia Beach Receives Deferred Judgment for Planting Tracker in Wegman’s Checkout

Connor Land, a 20-year-old Virginia Beach man who was arrested for attempting to track a woman and her child using an Apple AirTag concealed in stickers, will not face immediate punishment. Arrested in July 2023 while working at Wegman’s, Land confessed to hiding the tracking device in stickers given to a 7-year-old girl, intending to track her mother. Land’s actions were motivated by attraction to the mother. Although Land pled guilty and sufficient evidence and testimonials were presented, the judge deferred judgement until June 24 to allow Land time to enroll in counseling and treatment programs.

Land’s attorney, Kristin Paulding, explained their reliance on a 2020 state law that permits judges to defer and dismiss cases involving individuals diagnosed with autism or intellectual disabilities if the crime was directly influenced by their disorder. The law provides more options for neuro-atypical defendants, rather than forcing them to plead insanity. The prosecution, however, objected strongly to this ruling, asserting that the victims, including one from an unrelated previous incident, supported Land’s conviction.

Bodycam footage and video interviews revealed Land’s intentions and history. In the interviews, Land admitted to finding the girl’s mother attractive and wanting to track her to send a letter. He had a similar letter prepared, expressing his creepy desire to pay monthly to perform house chores and worship the woman. The previous victim had a protective order against Land issued following an incident in her dormitory. Land admitted to breaching the order accidentally, resulting in his suspension from school.

The victims also had the opportunity to share their experiences. One victim’s life was profoundly changed by the incident, leaving her “emotionally and psychologically distressed” and instilling fear of Land. Connor Land’s mother presented her son’s mental health struggles, noting that his diagnosis for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) was made in 2023. Land himself spoke of the social misunderstandings and the difficulties he faced while communicating with the opposite sex, describing his actions in the supermarket as a “frightening…invasion of privacy”.

Dr. Rex Miller, a mental health expert, testified to Land’s Autism Spectrum Disorder and impulse control disorders, and Kimar, president of D3 (Decriminalize Developmental Disorders), argued for fair treatment of individuals with developmental disabilities in the criminal justice system – the driving force behind the law. Land, who didn’t understand the norms of social behavior, hadn’t initially comprehended why his actions were threatening. Despite the victim’s objection, the judge deferred the judgement, facilitating further therapy and treatment for Land.