Instagram influencer accused of faking kidnapping in Petaluma heads to trial

PETALUMA, Calif. - The trial for the social media influencer accused of faking a kidnapping in Petaluma begins Tuesday morning.

Katie Sorensen is expected to appear before a Sonoma County judge at 10:30 a.m. about her claim of an attempted child abduction in December 2020 on Instagram, the Press Democrat reports.  

The "mom influencer" posted videos saying she was shopping at Michael's when a couple tried to take her kids. Petaluma police however, concluded her claim was a lie.

The couple accused of the abduction said they were victims of racism. 

"Do you really think it's OK to go online and be racist and make stories about a family?" Sadie Martinez, the woman accused in the kidnapping, said at a rally several days after the false report was filed. "It's hard enough to be a Latin family in a white community."

ALSO: Woman faces misdemeanor charges for filing false kidnapping report in Petaluma

Prosecutors believe Sorenson was trying to boost her Instagram brand and raise money.

She is charged with three misdemeanor counts of making a false report of a crime. If convicted, she could be sentenced to as much as six months in jail for each count or a maximum of 18 months in jail.