Stephanie Figueroa (Facebook/Stephanie-Figueroa)
Stephannie Figueroa, 21, faces multiple charges in connection with sending an 11-year-old student nude photos and soliciting him for sex. Figueroa is described as a “world champion” in martial arts, and teaches youth karate in Florida. She was arrested June 16 but has since been bailed out of jail. Family and friends are confident the charges will be dropped.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Police Say She Used Kik to Solicit a Student for Sex
Orlando police arrested Figueroa for allegedly having an inappropriate relationship with an 11-year-old student. She is accused of using the social app, Kik, to solicit the student for sex and send him nude photos.
Police say she invited the boy to her 21st birthday party and told him she wanted to have sex with him.
According to police, the boy told his mother that Figueroa flirted with him and sent him more than a dozen nude pictures, including photos of her private parts. The child told police Figueroa said she “liked him” and started “making advances” towards him in February, according to the arrest affidavit.
Police say Figueroa allegedly sent the boy a message saying, “I want to have sex with you.” “OK IDC [I don’t care],” he responded.
The boy said he received about 15 nude or partially nude photos of the woman, but they’re now deleted. It isn’t clear who deleted the messages, according to police.
2. The Student’s Mother Found the Messages
(Facebook/Next-Gen-Xtreme-Martial-Arts)
The Orlando Sentinel reported that the child’s mother said she found inappropriate messages on her phone and called police. She said Figueroa wrote to her son that “she could not wait for another sleep over at the karate school so she could have sex with him in a hard way.”
Stephannie Figueroa, 6/19/95, Karate Instructor at Next Gen Martial Arts. Arrested: soliciting a minor/Lewd act
A police spokeswoman said investigators believe there could be other victims. Anyone with information is asked to call Crimeline at 1-800-423-8477.
3. She Is a ‘World Champion’ in Martial Arts
According to Elite Force Martial Arts-LHP, located in Florida, Figueroa is a world champion in martial arts.
In the “About” section of Figueroa’s Facebook page, it says, “Started Martial Arts at the age of 5, Stephannie is one of the top competitors on the NASKA circuit today.”
At the time of the alleged incident, Figueroa was working at Next-Gen Xtreme Martial Arts. Online records indicate she has also held seminars at Elite Force Martial Arts-LHP.
4. She Faces Multiple Charges
(Facebook/Stephanie-Figueroa)
Figueroa faces several charges including attempted lewd or lascivious conduct, solicitation and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, child abuse, showing a minor obscene material and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
She bonded out of jail June 20. Police are continuing to investigate the validity of the messages, and looking into whether there are other victims.
5. Friends & Family Do Not Believe the Allegations Are True
(Facebook/kelly.figueroa)
Victoria Reckner, who has known Figueroa for about a year, told WESH:
I thought someone was doing it just to mess with her. I’d never think anything like that about her. Too many people like her. I mean, you’re innocent until you are proven guilty. I’ve never heard anything bad about her from anyone. Everyone I know has great things to say about her.
Figueroa’s father works at the studio and said he’s “100% confident the charges will be dropped.” He also said there are security cameras that will help prove she’s innocent.
This story will be updated as information becomes available.
