A California woman was sentenced to 90 days in jail after lying to authorities that a couple tried to kidnap her children.
According to the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office,
Kathleen Sorensen, was sentenced to jail on a single count of knowingly making a false report of a crime. The conviction stemmed from an incident in December 2020, when Sorensen and her two children were shopping at a Michaels craft store in Petaluma, California, about 30 miles north of San Francisco.
After buying several items, Sorensen left with her two children and drove out of the parking lot, according to a news release from Sonoma County prosecutors. Several minutes later, Sorensen called the Petaluma Police Department to report a couple tried to kidnap her children.
The district attorney’s office said that a week later Sorensen posted a video about the event where Sorensen talked about the incident adding,
significant details that had not been disclosed to the Petaluma Police Department.”
Sorensen @motherhoodessentials on Instagram, said in a two-part video filmed in her car six days later,
I want to share that story with you in an effort to raise awareness as to what signs to look for and to encourage parents to be more aware of their surroundings.”
Sorensen also went on a local news program and repeated her account of events.
The Petaluma Argus-Courier reported days after the incident, that Sadie Martinez identified herself and her husband as the couple accused of the alleged kidnapping. Martinez, who is Latina, suspected the incident was racially motivated.
I couldn’t believe it. It’s like we’re literally guilty of being brown while shopping.”
Martinez told Elle Magazine,
After (Sorensen) avoided accountability for years, and then hearing she was found guilty and walked out in handcuffs… yes, justice was served.
I feel like it’s a step in the right direction for my family. I’m grateful for the support.”
According to a release, Sorensen was
also placed on 12 months of informal probation during which time she was ordered to have no social media presence, submit to warrantless search and seizure, to include her electronic devices, complete a 4-hour implicit bias training, as well as various fines and fees.”
The district attorney’s office said 60 days of Sorensen’s sentence could be served in a work release program.
Katie Sorensen, 31, was convicted of lying to police about strangers trying to kidnap her two young children. Prosecutors said she did it to boost her online clout. https://t.co/niQ93Kaz54
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) May 1, 2023
(Photo, screen grab; via CNN)
