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Copycat prankster arrested after posting video of him licking Blue Bell ice-cream and putting it back in supermarket

The man, identified as 36-year-old Lenise Martin III, has reportedly been charged with unlawful posting of criminal activity for notoriety and publicity and tampering with property

A prankster, copying the infamous Blue Bell ice-cream licker, could face a prison sentence after he posted a video online, showing him licking ice-cream straight from a tub of ice cream and putting it back into a supermarket refrigerator. 

The man, identified as 36-year-old Lenise Martin III, has reportedly been charged with unlawful posting of criminal activity for notoriety and publicity and tampering with property. The incident reportedly occurred in a supermarket in Belle Rose, Louisiana.

The incident comes days after a video of a teenager went viral, where she was shown licking ice-cream out of a Blue Bell ice cream tub in a supermarket in Texas before putting it back into the freezer. Earlier reports stated that the teen has been identified and could face a prison sentence up to 20 years for consumer product tampering and a fine of up to $10,000. However, latest reports state that the teen has been identified as a minor and will not be subjected to the strenuous prison sentence, according to the Daily Mail. 

The latest copycat video shows Martin holding a large tub of Blue Bell ice-cream, taking off the lid and licking the ice-cream inside. He then puts his finger in the ice-cream before licking it a second time and putting the lid back on and placing it back in the freezer.

Reports state that when the manager of the store became aware of the video on Twitter, he returned with a receipt to show that he had actually paid for the tub of ice-cream, suggesting that, in reality, he did not leave it in the freezer. However, he was still charged and is currently in prison awaiting a bond, which is scheduled to be set by a judge on July 8. 

A spokesperson from the  Assumption Parish Sheriff's Office said: "It is illegal. It is a health risk to others. We will pursue anyone we see do this. You will be charged." The spokesperson added that any copycats will be dealt with "immediately and with the full extent of the law."

The original video of the Texas teen has reportedly sparked a challenge with many teens going to stores and running their tongues on tubs of ice-cream. The clip, which received over 11 million views, what posted to Twitter with the caption: "What kind of psychopathic behavior is this?" In the video, the girl's friend can be heard saying: "Lick it, lick it." And then later: "Put it back, put it back."

As officers were looking for the particular store where the video was taken, Blue Bell contacted authorities to notify them that it was a Walmart store in Lufkin, Texas.

Lufkin Police Department officers did not reveal the name of the girl, because of her age, and added that they did not plan to charge her as an adult for tampering with a consumer product. The department released a statement on Facebook saying that the girl is linked to the Lufkin area through her boyfriend's family. Reports state that both the girl and her boyfriend cooperated with the police and were forthcoming, telling them what had exactly occurred. 

"We do not intend to pursue charges against her as an 'adult' and therefore what happens from here is at the discretion of the juvenile justice system," the department said. "We cannot speak for them as to what charge she will face in the juvenile justice system. As to whether her boyfriend will face charges, we are currently discussing his involvement with prosecutors."