A YouTube lawyer who rose to internet fame with his commentary on theJohnny Depp and Amber Heardtrial has been arrested along with his wife on charges of owning guns, drugs and endangering their five children.
Nick Rekieta, 42, and his wife Kayla were arrested by police in Minnesota this week.Cops were led to their home by their videos which officers say showed signs of drug use.
'Nicholas appears to have lost weight, appears tired, and overall appears 'strung out,' common with controlled substances users,' wroteQuin Pomplun, a detective from Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Office.
YouTuber and online legal personality Nick Rekieta (left), who rose to fame for his analysis of the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard trial, and his wife, Kayla (right) have both been arrested and charged with drug possession, firearm possession and child endangerment
The case stemmed from their analysis of videos and streams posted by the 42-year-old YouTube personality between January and May, which allegedly showed signs of drug use
Police received a complaint about the pair on May 16 after their children told school teachers they were hungry.
The kids said they were forced to wear unwashed clothes for days at a time, and often went without meals.
The police report describes how the pair's home was 'in disarray and cluttered'.
They were also concerned about the fact another couple had moved in to the already crowded house.
After analyzing the videos on Nick's YouTube channel, Pomplun said he 'immediately noted that Nicholas's appearance in recent months has changed.'
He also claims he suspected Nick got up during one of his livestreams to do drugs. During the video blog, the host went off camera and allegedly came back moments later with 'an excited look' and 'a white powdery substance on his nose.'
'Nicholas is so under the influence of a substance to the point he has to close one eye to read his screen, rambles, and slurs his speech,' Pomplun wrote in the search warrant affidavit.
'Nicholas would obviously not be able to care for his children in this state of intoxication.'
Nick, a licensed lawyer, is best known for his legal analysis and commentary on high-profile cases (Pictured: Nick live streaming the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard trial and analyzing it)
A series of videos he posted dissecting the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard trial day-by-day catapulted him to internet stardom, amassed his following to half a million subscribers and brought in six figures into his bank account
When officers went to search the home on May 23, they had to battle-ram the door after being denied entry. Upon entering the home, April and four of the children were in the home.
After searching the home, police discovered 26.67 grams of cocaine, eight ketamine pills, a digital scale, an AR rifle with several magazines, a .22 caliber spent casing, two credit cards belonging to Imholte and various drug paraphernalia and other items that tested positive for cocaine residue.
Nick was compliant with officers and told them that he and his wife slept in the master bedroom. Officials noticed there were soars on his arms, which are a common indication of drug use
April was also taken into custody that day, but was released that same day without being charged.
During intake at jail, Kayla requested her prescription medication.
However, a jail staff inspection found unidentified pills and gummies inside the container, raising concerns as they didn't match the labeled prescription.
Nick, a licensed lawyer, is best known for his legal analysis and commentary on high-profile cases.
A series of videos he posted dissecting the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard trial day-by-day catapulted him to internet stardom, amassed his following to half a million subscribers and brought in six figures into his bank account
Four church members and a preschool teacher reported that Nick exhibited concerning behavior, appearing lethargic, possibly under the influence of drugs, and showing unexplained weight loss (Pictured: Nick drinking during one of his livestreams)
Officials say they found drug paraphernalia and firearms in the couple's master bedroom
His Zoom court appearance was posted on X and his charges were read aloud by the judge. Nick said he was representing himself and his wife during the proceeding.
He and his wife have since been released but are scheduled to appear in court on August 8, 2024. Whether or not their kids have been removed from their home has not been released.
If convicted, Nick and his wife could face up to 25 years behind bars. It is unclear if they have entered a plea at this time.
