FL Group Foster Home Counselor Performed Sex Acts On Boy: Sheriff

BRANDON, FL — A youth counselor at A Kid’s Place of Tampa Bay faces charges after performing sex acts on an underage boy who lived there, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

Detectives began investigating Katherine Sticklin, 28, on Sept. 11 after learning of “misconduct committed by” her,” the agency said.

A foster child at the group home in Brandon reported that Sticklin initiated a conversation with him on Snapchat, where she sent him explicit images and said she wanted to perform sexual acts on him.

Even after the boy blocked her on social media, she continued to pressure him into sexual activity, the sheriff’s office said.

Sticklin went into the shared men’s bathroom while he was alone “and began to perform sexual acts on him,” investigators said.

She was charged with one count of lewd or lascivious touching of a minor 16 or 17 years of age by a person 24 years of age or older and three counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor.

"The crimes committed by this woman are vile and cruel," Sheriff Chad Chronister said. "She should be ashamed of taking advantage of someone she was trusted to care for and mentor. I hope he is able to begin healing knowing this woman is behind bars.”