A California mother with thousands of followers on the social network Instagram published two videos that had millions of views in which she accused a Latino couple of trying to kidnap their children.
The woman has been accused of lying to police about the incident and is now facing criminal charges.
Katie Sorensen of Sonoma, 63 miles from Sacramento, is charged with giving police false information about an incident in December, according to prosecutors, and faces up to six months in prison.
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Sorensen said in two videos posted on the social network that were seen almost five million times that a couple tried to kidnap their children next to a Michael's decoration store in the city of Petaluma, on the San Francisco Bay.
Your account remains private since then.
Sadie and Eddie Martínez. Courtesy of Sadie Vega-Martínez.
“They didn't necessarily look flawless. I was uncomfortable with them, "she
said at the time, adding that she was" totally paralyzed with fear. "
But when police identified the Latino couple, Sadie and Eddie Martinez, they promptly cleared them of any wrongdoing, concluding that Sorensen's complaint was false.
The couple, parents of five children, were in the store buying a figure of the Child Jesus, and accused Sorensen of racial discrimination.
"We are very happy with the news. Things like this happen, and we wondered for a while if he would ever face charges,"
stated Sadie Martinez.
"Do we look like kidnappers? It's funny. We have five Latino children, we don't kidnap children, we have many," the mother of the family added to Telemundo Noticias.
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Sorenson said that she was very overwhelmed by the reaction to the videos and that she wanted those who sent her negative comments to realize that she had "faced a traumatic experience with which it is impossible to be at full capacity," she explained to the informative website. Buzzfeed News.
She will appear in court next week after being charged Thursday with two misdemeanors that carry a maximum sentence of six months in jail, according to the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office.
The Michel Decoration Store in Petaluma, California.Google Street View
Esaia, daughter of Sadie Martinez, told BuzzFeed News:
"It is not the first racist injustice to occur in Petaluma far from it
, but we are definitely grateful that in this case the truth has been pursued with all rights."
In recent months there have also been similar cases across the country.
Amy Cooper was charged with a false report after calling 911 because a black man who was watching birds "tried to attack her."
Cooper was fired and charged with a misdemeanor which was later dismissed after completing therapy sessions.
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Also in New York, Miya Ponsetto was arrested after falsely accusing a black teenager of stealing her cell phone.
The 22-year-old allegedly accused and assaulted the 14-year-old in a hotel.
Ponsetto faces criminal charges in the case.
With information from BuzzFeed and NY Daily News.
