A Californian woman rented an Airbnb in Michigan for a month to meet a 15-year-old boy
NOVI, Mich. (FOX 2) – Novi police said they stopped a 33-year-old woman from San Francisco after saying she met a then 14-year-old boy online, flew across the country, rented an Airbnb for a month and would send him Uber rides to pick him up.
Stephanie Sin was arrested by Novi Police Sunday on one count of child sexual abuse and another count of using a computer to commit a crime.
According to Novi police, Sin met the boy on an app when he was 14. The conversation then shifted from app to text and gradually became more explicit, police said.
Last weekend, police say she bought a plane ticket and rented Airbnb from royal oak for a month with the intention of meeting the 15-year-old in person. Police said they would then send Uber rides to the boy’s house to pick him up and bring him to her.
According to the police, this frightened the boy and he told his parents what had happened. The Novi police were then contacted and they immediately moved to arrest him.
βIt started as they were casually talking, then it evolved into more sexually explicit conversations,β Novi Police Lt. Jason Meier said. “She was a little surprised (at the arrest), but at the same time she knew what she was doing.”
Police told FOX 2 that Sin didn’t seem surprised when she was arrested and cooperated.
“This case is a stark reminder of how important it is for parents to be aware of their children’s online activity,” Meier said. ”
Ninety-nine percent of these cases are male predators trying to attract girls, but the grooming is all the same.
“It may be exciting, but it’s very dangerous, and we encourage anyone to tell someone,” he said. “Tell your parents, tell your teacher, tell the police.”
Sin and the teenager never had physical contact, all because he talked.
“I give him all the credit in the world for telling somebody and getting a predator off the streets,” Meier said.
She is due in court on April 20 and is being held on $100,000 cash bond.
Online update (13/04): A spokesperson released a statement that Airbnb banned the woman from its platform.
Stephanie Sin, 33, was arrested after police said she met a then 14-year-old boy online and traveled across the country to meet him.
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