Chris Chan, whose legal name is Christine Weston Chandler, was arrested in Virginia in early August 2021 on a felony charge of incest. The charge came after leaked messages and a recorded call suggested that she had engaged in sexual activity with her elderly mother, who was reported to have dementia.

What led to the arrest

• In late July 2021, screenshots and an audio recording were shared online in which Chandler appeared to describe having a sexual relationship with her mother, then in her late 70s. These leaks prompted widespread concern and reports to authorities.

• Police in Greene County, Virginia, investigated and subsequently arrested Chandler at a hotel on August 1, 2021, formally charging her with one count of incest under Virginia law.

Legal context and outcome

• In Virginia, sexual intercourse between a parent and child is classified as incest and is treated as a felony offense that can carry significant prison time.

• The case went through multiple hearings, and in August 2023 a judge ultimately dismissed the criminal case after the defense sought an autism-related deferred disposition, a mechanism that can allow alternative handling for defendants with certain developmental or intellectual conditions.