A 20-year-old Santa Ana man, Sergio Estrada, has been charged with multiple felonies, including child abduction, after allegedly taking a 14-year-old Kern County girl he met through the popular online game Fortnite.
The teen’s mother reported her missing after discovering she had left home. She suspected Estrada had taken her daughter to Santa Ana in Orange County. Law enforcement later located the pair at a residence in east Bakersfield, and the girl was safely reunited with her family.
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Estrada, who appeared in court Friday wearing an orange jumpsuit, faces five felony charges, including:
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Child stealing
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Contacting a minor to commit a sexual offense
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Exhibiting harmful material to a minor
He pleaded not guilty to all charges through a public defender.
According to investigators, the teen and Estrada had been communicating for two years through Fortnite and social media platforms. The case highlights growing concerns over how predators use gaming platforms to groom minors.
Judge Samantha K. G. Allen, overseeing the case, confirmed the charges and approved legal representation for Estrada.
Expert Warns of Online Threats to Children
Cybersecurity expert and father of three, Robert Miles, CEO of Grapevine MSP, emphasized the urgent need for parental vigilance in the digital age.
“Every device I get, Dad gets it first,” said Miles. “I go through all the parental controls. I read them. I play the games with my kids. They don’t get a game until I do.”
Miles explained that the internet has redefined what “stranger danger” looks like. Instead of a suspicious van on the street, predators are now entering children’s lives through screens, often daily.
Miles’ Tips for Parents:
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Actively monitor your child’s video game and social media use
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Use parental control software and filtering tools
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Play games together before allowing unsupervised use
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Keep devices in common areas
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Meet online friends in person with your child, if allowed
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Have honest conversations about online safety
“You need to be the paranoid one, not the child,” Miles said. “Set ground rules. Make sure they know what’s acceptable. This isn’t a one-time thing—these predators are in your home every day, talking to your child.”
