It has been a turbulent week for Braden Eric Peters, the 20-year-old internet personality better known as Clavicular. He recently found himself in handcuffs for a second time as Florida authorities arrested him.
Peters built his online following through looksmaxxing, a subculture centered on maximizing physical attractiveness through unconventional means. This includes attempts to transform his appearance through methods ranging from st**oid use and testosterone treatments to striking his own face with a hammer.
Sources state that his first arrest came Thursday in Fort Lauderdale, where police took him into custody on a battery charge. According to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, a 19-year-old woman reported being battered by Violet Marie Lentz, 24, during a physical altercation on February 2 at a residence Peters had rented in central Florida.
Authorities allege Peters orchestrated the incident and later posted video of it to social media. When deputies arrived at the property, neither Peters nor Lentz came outside to speak with them. The sheriff’s office issued warrants for Peters on charges of misdemeanor battery and criminal conspiracy to commit battery, along with a separate warrant for Lentz, who remains at large. Peters posted bond of $1,000 and was released late Friday.
That same week, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced a formal investigation following the circulation of footage from one of Peters’ live broadcasts on March 26.
Recorded aboard an airboat in the Florida Everglades, the footage shows members of Peters’ group discharging a firearm at an alligator. According to sources, one member of the party casually raised the idea of firing at the animal, Clavicular drew a weapon and discharged it almost immediately, before anyone else had time to reach for noise-protecting headphones.
During the same outing, Peters was also seen firing rounds into the air in an apparent attempt to bring down a drone he believed was being used to surveil the group.
“The FWC is aware of a video depicting individuals in the Everglades on an airboat who appear to be discharging firearms at an alligator,” the commission said. “FWC officers are looking into the incident and will provide additional information when available.”
The case quickly drew the attention of Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who made clear the state was treating the matter with full seriousness. Speaking with commentator Benny Johnson, Uthmeier confirmed that wildlife officials are “deeply involved in an investigation” and that the footage paints a damaging picture for Peters.
“Obviously we have the video, but we’re crossing our Ts, dotting our Is. It looks like a serious offense here. This is a felony. You can’t just go out and sho ot animals here in Florida. We have a permitting process. If you want to go on a gator hunt, there are certainly very appropriate ways to do that,” Uthmeier said.
Under Florida Statute 379.409, harming an alligator without proper authorization is classified as a Level 4 violation and a third-degree felony, carrying a potential sentence of up to five years in state prison. The aerial discharge incident, meanwhile, potentially runs afoul of Florida Statute 790.15, which prohibits discharging a firearm in a public place in an unsafe manner, a first-degree misdemeanor that carries a possible one-year sentence.
Uthmeier described Peters’ on-camera conduct as “careless and cocky” and left little doubt about how the state intends to proceed, noting that Florida would not be extending any special treatment to influencers or celebrities.
“It might just be so stu pid that it lands him a lot of time behind bars,” the attorney general warned. “If you’re gonna do dumb things, expect to get serious results. If you do the cri me here, you do the time. We prosecute to the fullest.”
Shortly after news of the second arrest began circulating, Peters abruptly ended his live broadcast with little explanation, telling viewers he had matters to handle.
“Yo, boys, we’re gonna cut it for a little while. I’ve gotta take care of some stuff. We’ll come back soon,” he told his audience before the feed went dark. “I’ll be back in a little bit.”
Peters now faces potential legal consequences on multiple fronts across different Florida jurisdictions, with the wildlife felony representing by far the most serious exposure.
