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Topics: Crime, News, US News, Social Media
Ali Condon
Topics: Crime, News, US News, Social Media
An influencer has been convicted for falsely claiming that a couple attempted to kidnap her children in a social media video.
Katie Sorensen, 31, could face up to six months behind bars after being found guilty of making a false report of a crime.
The influencer told police and her followers back in 2020 about how two strangers had tried to grab her two young children outside a shop in Petaluma, California.
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Not only that, but videos were posted of the so-called attempted kidnapping on her social media, and even broadcasted on local news.
In her video, which was viewed over four million times, Katie told her followers that she wanted to 'raise awareness as to what signs to look for, and to just encourage parents to be more aware of their surroundings.'
It wasn't long before the couple that Katie had identified in CCTV footage, Sadie and Eddie Martinez, as the supposed kidnappers came forward and 'resoundingly contradicted' her accusation, prosecutors told the court.
Police were quickly able to determine that Katie's claim was false.
Speaking on Good Morning America, Sadie suggested that Katie had decided to make up the story to boost her social media.
"She wanted a stronger following; she was looking for, you know, content for her name and her income, and at our expense," she said.
In another interview with The Petaluma Argus-Courier, Sadie suggested that she and her husband, a Latino couple, had been seen as suspects because of their race.
"It's like we're literally guilty of being Brown while shopping," said Sadie.
Following Katie's guilty verdict last month, District Attorney Rodriguez stated: “This verdict will enable us to hold Ms. Sorensen accountable for her crime, while at the same time helping to exonerate the couple that was falsely accused of having attempted to kidnap two young children.
"The case is also important in that it illustrates the importance of using social media responsibly."
However, Katie Sorensen's attorney, Charles Dresow, maintains that his client did not intentionally lie to police.
"She misperceived and misunderstood a series of random events, which were occurring around her, and made an honest report to the police on December 7th," said Dresdow in a statement.
The influencer has been remanded into custody with her bail set to $100,000.
Katie's sentencing hearing is yet to be set.