'Hot' convict jailed for 27 months

A criminal from California who became an Internet sensation for his good-looking mug shot has been thrown behind bars for 27 months.

Jeremy Meeks, 30, was caught in June last year in possession of a loaded .45 caliber pistol - a federal crime that could have seen him jailed for up to 10 years.

He has been in an out of prison for more than 10 years, with his first conviction back in 2002 for committing grand theft.

Meeks shot from in-trouble to in-demand after his mug shot was posted on the Facebook page of the Stockton Police Department and quickly racked up more than 101,000 likes, 12,800 shares and nearly 27,000 comments.

In comparison, the three other suspects arrested together with Meeks only garnered a total of 3,000 likes between them.

The convict with the killer looks, who has earned the nickname "Dreamy McMugshot", has been approached by agents in Hollywood who are trying to sign him up on lucrative deals - of as much as US$100,000 (S$135,000) a month and possibly a reality TV deal as well.

On top of his jail term, Meeks was also ordered to undergo a 500-hour substance abuse treatment course and fined $100.

Source: NY Daily News, The Mirror