California Mom Influencer Faces Jail Time Following Kidnapping Hoax

Katie Sorensen, a California mom influencer, who became famous in 2020 for a viral Instagram video falsely claiming a kidnapping attempt on her children at a crafts store in Northern California, has been sentenced to jail, according to prosecutors.

The Sonoma County district attorney's office announced on Thursday that Sorensen, 30 years old, will serve a 90-day jail sentence, with the possibility of 60 days being served through a work-release program, CBS News noted.

She had previously been convicted in April for knowingly making a false report of a crime.

Before facing charges, Sorensen had a modest following on her @motherhoodessentials Instagram account.

However, her videos regarding the alleged kidnapping attempt garnered significant attention, being viewed over 4 million times and attracting tens of thousands of new followers. However, those videos have since been removed.

California Mom Influencer's Kidnapping Hoax Video

The Sonoma County District Attorney's office provided details on Katie Sorensen's false kidnapping claims at the craft store.

Sorensen visited the store on December 7, 2020, and subsequently reported an "attempted kidnapping" to the Petaluma Police Department, according to the DA's office.

Approximately one week later, she posted an Instagram video recounting the alleged event, sharing additional details that had not been provided to the police, according to SFGATE.

The investigation conducted by the police department found significant contradictions between Sorensen's report and the evidence obtained from the store's surveillance video as well as statements from the couple accused of the attempted kidnapping, as stated by the district attorney's office.

The accused couple, of Latino descent, believed that Sorensen's accusations were racially motivated, as previously reported by the Press Democrat.

Sadie Martinez, one of the accused shoppers, expressed her disbelief and frustration, highlighting the perception that they were targeted simply because of their ethnicity.

"It's like we're literally guilty of being brown while shopping," she stated during a 2020 news conference.

The prosecutors in Sorensen's case believe that she exploited her influencer platform for financial gain, according to the Press Democrat.

Court documents obtained by the outlet revealed that Sorensen allegedly engaged in QAnon conspiracy theories associated with kidnappers and pedophiles.

During her trial, Sorensen claimed that she had misinterpreted the events of the alleged kidnapping incident.

In addition to the jail sentence following the kidnapping hoax, the California mom influencer will be placed on 12 months of informal probation, which includes specific conditions such as abstaining from any social media presence, consenting to warrantless search and seizure, including her electronic devices, and completing a 4-hour implicit bias training program.

Various fines and fees are also part of the sentence, as stated by the district attorney's office.

Couple Involved in Kidnapping Hoax Speak Up After the Verdict

Following Thursday's hearing, Eddie Martinez, the husband of Sadie Martinez, expressed his belief that justice had been served in Katie Sorensen's case, The Press Democrat reported.

However, he also empathized with Sorensen, acknowledging the difficulties of being separated from one's children for an extended period.

Despite the impact on their lives, Martinez expressed a sense of compassion, stating, "I feel bad."

Martinez further expressed hope that the experience and consequences Sorensen is facing might serve as a lesson, allowing her to gain a broader perspective on life.

He believed that going through this process, hearing the impact of her actions, and experiencing the repercussions might lead her to a realization and ultimately help her change her ways.

Sadie Martinez shared a similar sentiment, expressing her desire for the California mom influencer to feel remorse for her actions.

She emphasized the importance of taking responsibility for one's mistakes and acknowledged that doubling down on false claims had only further harmed Sorensen's situation.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: California mom found guilty of falsely reporting attempted kidnapping - From NBC News