Thankfully, Sorensen was convicted on one count of making a false report of a crime and faces up to six months in jail. But the fact that she was willing to make up such an outrageous story for likes and shares is a testament to just how far some will go for a few moments of internet fame. It's important to remember that the consequences of these actions can be far-reaching and harmful to individuals and communities alike.
The New York Post reported that Katie Sorensen, 31, was found guilty on one count of making a false report of a crime Thursday and faces up to six months in jail.
“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,” Sonoma County District Attorney (https://da.sonomacounty.ca.gov/woman-convicted-of-knowingly-making-a-false-report-of-attempted-kidnap) Carla Rodriguez. “The case is also important in that it illustrates the importance of using social media responsibly.”
In December 2020, Sorensen posted a video to her now-private Instagram account detailing the fabricated story about how her children were the targets of an attempted abduction in Petaluma, Calif.
The mom-of-two was shopping at a Michael’s craft store where she purchased a few items and left the store to report to police that a couple inside the store tried to kidnap her children.
She filed a police report and then went on social media and the story she told there and on local news was totally different, so cops were suspicious.
Sorensen had reported only suspicious activity by the couple, later identified as Sadie and Eddie Martinez, as she “did not want anyone arrested but wanted to draw attention to the concerning behavior exhibited by the couple,” according to the original press release from the Petaluma Police.
Several days later Sorensen told her story on her Instagram account which was later deemed suspicious by the police investigating the original claim.
Katie Sorensen says strangers tried to kidnap her kids outside the Petaluma @MichaelsStores after following them around inside. Her @instagram video (partial here) has hit 2M views. @petaluma_police investigating. She & @PollyDad speak out to @KTVU 5:15, 6:15, 7:30 p.m. pic.twitter.com/cG0wnm2JgQ
— Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) December 15, 2020
The police then went back and used security footage to see what happened and discovered that the mommy influencer was actually lying. That Hispanic couple was minding their own business.
It appears the influencer did all of this for attention and made these two innocent people - who are also parents - look like child sex traffickers.
Disgusting.
