A girl from a small Californian city was allegedly kidnapped by a 27-year-old man. She met him on Roblox. The incident has once again raised concerns about the dangers of Roblox for kids. Online interactions on the platform can easily lead to real-world risks.

Matthew Naval, an adult from California, met the 10-year-old girl on Roblox, and they agreed to meet. The girl shared her address with the stranger, and he drove for more than four hours to meet her. After Naval picked up the child from home, the couple attempted to check in at a hotel in Fresno. They could not book a room as the minor had no ID card. 

Matthew Naval claims the girl told him that she was almost 19 years old while chatting with him, and he did not realize she was a minor when he saw her. He picked up the girl from her home around 1:00 AM. Then, he took her more than 250 miles away. Her family reported the missing child in the morning after they realized she was not home. 

Police locate the missing girl and arrest the suspect

After hours of searching, Kern County police officers found a possible location for the girl in Elk Grove, CA. They contacted Elk Grove Police for assistance and found the girl safe and sound in Naval’s car at a parking lot near the city mall. The police immediately arrested him on suspicions of kidnapping and child sex-related charges, and the girl was returned to her family. 

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Legal consequences and defense arguments

Matthew Naval is held on a $1.35 million bail and is expected to appear in court in June. Naval’s lawyer claims his client is autistic and was looking for a friendship and was not aware of the girl’s actual age. In a jailhouse interview for 17 News, the alleged child predator claims that he did not know she was a minor. He says they kissed and held hands but was unaware she was only 10. 

Not an isolated case: Roblox and child exploitation

Strangers have exploited children on Roblox before. Earlier this year, a 64-year-old California man pretending to be a 13-year-old boy on Roblox was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison. He convinced a 12-year-old girl to share sexually explicit imagery with him. He even convinced the victim to take questionable photos of a 5-year-old relative. 

How to protect children from the dangers of Roblox

The digital age has opened many doors for youngsters to connect, learn and explore. However, their dependability on online activities also presents an opportunity for predators and fraudsters. Having an antivirus software solution blanketing your digital life is a must. Parental Control features often come loaded in such products and, if used correctly, they certainly decrease the chances of predators ever approaching your kids.

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