Santa Fe Man Sentenced to Prison for Social Media-Fueled Sexual Abuses

SAN JORGE, Argentina ⁤(AP) — A 23-year-old man from El Trébol has been sentenced​ to eight years in prison for two counts of sexual abuse⁢ committed in 2022 and 2024. The crimes occurred in separate cities within the San Martín department of Santa Fe province.

jesús Rubén Segovia was convicted in an abbreviated ⁤trial ⁣before Judge ‍Pablo Ruiz Staiger in san Jorge, according to the ⁤Public ProsecutorS office (MPA).The agreement was reached ‍between the Prosecutor’s Office and the defense.

Social ⁢Media Used to Target Victim

The case is notable becuase segovia used social media platforms, specifically Instagram and TikTok, to identify⁣ and groom his latest victim.

Prosecutor Diego Rodríguez and barros stated that in October‌ of last year,‌ Segovia met a teenager from Las Rosas, Belgrano department, after communicating with her on ‍TikTok and Instagram. The victim was unaware of Segovia’s true identity beyond⁣ his online profiles.

“Minutes after meeting, the victim got onto ‌a motorcycle with the convicted man and traveled to ⁣a property in El Trébol, where he lived,” the MPA official said. “There, he sexually assaulted her before returning ​her⁢ to Las Rosas.”

The prosecutor added that the teenager confided in‌ her mother two days later, leading⁤ to the filing of a⁢ police report and subsequent inquiry.

Prior Abuse Conviction

The eight-year sentence also accounts for a separate sexual abuse ⁤offense committed in⁣ November 2022.

Rodríguez and Barros explained that in the earlier incident, the ⁤victim and a friend accepted a ride in a car with ⁤Segovia and another man. After driving for approximately half an hour from the main square of san jorge to Segovia’s residence, the abuse ‌occurred.

According to the prosecutor, Segovia “attempted against the sexual integrity ‌of the adolescent and then urged her not to tell anyone what had happened.” The victim’s father learned of the incident‍ two days later after hearing a WhatsApp audio related to the event, prompting him to contact his daughter and file a complaint.