A 32-year-old man from Texas has been charged with sexual abuse of a child after allegedly using the messaging app Kik to lure a 15-year-old girl to his home. Ash Arthur is currently held without bond in Harris County jail in Houston.
Police say Arthur used Kik, an app known for preserving user anonymity, to communicate with the teenager since July 2016 before convincing her to meet him. The girl, who had run away from Woodland, California, stayed with Arthur at a motel for several days before being taken to his home.
Family members became concerned and alerted authorities, leading to Arthur's arrest. During interviews, police learned that Arthur had sex with the girl. Tammy Hetmaniak, Community Outreach Coordinator for The Children's Assessment Center, emphasised the dangers of such apps, noting that children can receive messages from predators without parents knowing the conversation history.
Hetmaniak urged parents to speak with their children about online safety and the risks of apps that bypass cell phone providers, making it easier for predators to groom victims.
