“Ex-Pikesville High principal impersonated in racist AI case settles lawsuit”

Dylan Segelbaum and Kristen Griffith report that Ex-Pikesville principal settles with BCPS [Baltimore County Public Schools] after racist AI impersonation – The Baltimore Banner (Oct. 31, 2025).

The article states: “A settlement has been reached in a lawsuit that the former principal of Pikesville High School filed against Baltimore County Public Schools and the man convicted of using artificial intelligence to impersonate him and destroy his reputation.”

The terms of the settlement were not disclosed. The plaintiff “alleged that the school system refused to correct the record after an employee used AI to create an audio clip that sounded like him making racist and antisemitic comments.”  Id.

The fake audio clip contained racist and antisemitic remarks.  It was posted on social media.  Kristen Griffith, Faked by AI? Baltimore County Public Schools investigates offensive recording – The Baltimore Banner (Jan. 17, 2024). Mr. Eiswert was immediately removed from his  position as principal.

A criminal investigation followed, and:

Eiswert reported that he had conversations with Darien about not renewing his contract due to poor performance, inability to follow procedures and unwillingness to adhere to the chain of command.

Police tied Darien to a Gmail account that was used to send out the recording to two teachers with the subject line, “Pikesville Principal — Disturbing Recording.” The clip appeared on social media about 30 minutes later.

Forensic experts proved that the recording was fake.  Dylan Segelbaum and Kristen Griffith, Ex-Pikesville principal speaks after Dazhon Darien’s plea in AI case – The Baltimore Banner (Apr. 28, 2025).

Catalin Grigoras, an associate professor at the University of Colorado Denver and director of the National Center for Media Forensics, performed an “extensive analysis” and concluded that the audio contained traces of AI-generated content.

Grigoras also determined that someone then edited the clip and added background noises to make it seem more realistic.

Id.

Although the offensive audio was fake, the ex-principal testified that his life would never be the same. Dylan Segelbaum and Kristen Griffith, Ex-Pikesville principal speaks after Dazhon Darien’s plea in AI case – The Baltimore Banner (Apr. 28, 2025).  “The recording quickly spread across social media, and Eric Eiswert said his life forever changed.”  Id.

One day, Eiswert said, he was a respected educator who had served students and their families in Baltimore County for 27 years. The next day, people viewed him as a “racist and antisemite who said vile things about students and teachers.”

Though people later learned the recording was fake, Eiswert said, he knew “my life would never be the same.”

“I am slowly rebuilding my professional career, and I’m beginning to heal,” Eiswert said on Monday in the Baltimore County Courts Building. “But this experience will never leave me.”

Id.  The Banner reports that:

Eiswert received threats, including one that stated the “world would be a better place if you were on the other side of dirt.” He’s now principal of Sparrows Point Middle School in Edgemere.

Id.

The defendant entered an Alford plea to one count of disturbing school operations and was sentenced to four months in the Baltimore County Detention Center.  The sentencing judge said that a “good section of the community” will always look at Eiswert in a different light “whether it’s deserved or not.”  Id.  The judge added: “It is clear that he did not make that recording,” …. “He will always have to take that with him.” Id.

UPDATE: Racquel Bazos, “Former Pikesville high School principal settles suit with AI impersonator,” Baltimore Sun (Nov. 2, 2025)(“Darien was sentenced to four months in the county detention center for disturbing school operations.”).