Man who sprayed bug killer on Walmart food sentenced to prison

MESA, Ariz. — A man who filmed himself spraying bug killer on Walmart produce has been sentenced to a year in prison. 

Charles Smith pleaded guilty in April to adding poison to food. He also pleaded guilty to criminal damage and solicitation to commit burglary in the third degree for two other cases.

“I’d just like to formally apologize for my actions from last year, and I’ve become a better person since being here,” Smith said in court Tuesday.

Mesa police arrested Smith after a video circulated online showing someone spraying “Hot Shot Ultra Bed Bug and Flea Killer” on food items at a Walmart in Mesa. Court records show Smith reportedly returned to the store and “attempted to collect the items he had sprayed.” 

A Walmart spokesperson said the impacted items were removed from shelves. Arrest documents claim it caused nearly $1,000 in damaged goods.

“This crime was absolutely outrageous and exceedingly dangerous,” said the judge.

Smith stated that he does these kinds of “pranks” as a “troll” for social media, according to court documents. He also told police he can earn between $6,000 and $10,000 a month for doing acts like this and posting them on social media.

“If you’re going to go out into the community and you’re going to harm others, film them, put it online and then profit off of it, that warrants punishment,” prosecutors said.

Smith’s attorney said right before sentencing was handed down that his client has taken responsibility for his actions and wants to remove himself from social media once released.

“He’s had the opportunity to reflect on what he considered to be pranks at that time, and he understands those are not pranks,” Smith’s attorney said. “What he did was not funny, and that’s not how he should behave.”

Smith’s TikTok page, which had more than 300,000 followers, was removed shortly after his arrest. However, his Instagram page, which also has more than 300,000 followers, is still published.

“Social media has definitely took over my brain and made me do things that was abnormal,” Smith said.

Rachel Smith, an instructor at Webster University in St. Louis, specializes in media literacy. She doesn’t condone what Smith did, but said social media can be extremely addictive for anyone. 

“Our behavior is shaped by rewards, and behavior online is rewarded with engagement and follows, and in his case, $10,000 a month,” Rachel Smith said.

After the judge sentenced Smith, she also said he cannot return to Walmart and imposed computer usage restrictions.  

You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12+ app! 

The free 12+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like “Today in AZ” and “12 News” and our daily lifestyle program, “Arizona Midday”—on Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV. 

12+  showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona. 

Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives. 

Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for “12 News KPNX.” 

Amazon Fire TV: Search for “12 News KPNX” to find the free 12+ app to add to your account, or have the 12+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.