Female Internet Gamer Indicted for Rape of Boy - Updated

(Potsdam, New York) In July 2007, a 22-year-old California woman, Kathryn Brauch, was arrested for rape of a 13-year-old boy she met on the Internet.

Brauch also is alleged to have sent the boy pornography from her home in Huntington Beach. It appears that Brauch began a relationship with the boy playing an Internet game and subsequently traveled 3,000 miles to meet up with the Potsdam boy.

Brauch was charged with rape, criminal sexual conduct and disseminating indecent material to a minor. She was booked into custody with bail set at $50,000. She has been in jail since.

Yesterday, Brauch was indicted.

Kathryn Brauch of Port Huenerne, California was indicted on two counts of 2nd degree Sexual Abuse, two counts of 2nd degree Criminal Sexual Act, two counts of 2nd degree Rape, two counts of Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child on Thursday by a St. Lawrence County Grand Jury. She remains in Jail on $50,000 cash bail.

Brauch allegedly met the boy through the online game Runescape and began a relationship with him, even sending him a cell phone that they then used to trade pornographic pictures of one another. On July 1st she traveled from California to Potsdam, staying at his home and engaging in sex with the boy.

The boy's mother, 40-year-old Maria A. Conklin of Market Street in Potsdam was charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child for allegedly allowing Brauch to move into their Market Street apartment and pursue a relationship with the boy.

And, there's more trouble since Brauch allegedly mixed it up with another young boy in Potsdam.

Interestingly, prior to Brauch leaving California, her friends reportedly pleaded with her not to go visit the boy. She didn't listen.

Tip: Don Morgenstern


[Update 12/13/07]

The boy's mother, 40-year-old Maria A. Conklin-Matthie, was sentenced by Potsdam Village Justice Tom Wheeler yesterday to 30 days in the St. Lawrence County Jail for endangering the welfare of a child.


[Update 05/06/08]

Kathryn Brauch pleaded guilty in accordance with an agreement. She gets three years prison and, upon release, three years supervised probation. She must also register as a sex offender. (Sentenced 6/23/08)

The boy's mother, Maria Conklin Matthie, pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child for allowing Brauch to sleep with her son. She was sentenced to a month in jail.