HEBRON, Ky. — On Monday, just before 11:00 am, the School Resource Officer (SRO) at Conner High School was alerted to a situation that had taken place in the school parking lot involving a female juvenile student. Detectives later arrested an adult male from Las Vegas, Nevada.
Benjamin J. Margitza, 18, Las Vegas, NV was arrested and charged with Attempted Kidnapping – Minor and Criminal Trespass 3rd Degree. Margitza flew from Las Vegas to Northern Kentucky late Saturday night with the sole intention of making contact with the victim. Margitza and the victim first met through an online application approximately four (4) years ago where a minimal amount of communication had taken place. Within the past year, Margitza contacted the victim again and began making explicit, sexual statements while also obsessing over the victim by stating how he wanted to marry her.
Unbeknownst to the victim, Margitza traveled to the Northern Kentucky area and knew that the victim attended Conner High School. Margitza contacted the victim in the school parking lot and grabbed her arm. The victim screamed and began to run away from Margitza, but he continued to follow her. A male student heard the altercation and intervened by not allowing him to continue to follow her. The victim then made contact with the SRO inside of Conner High School to report what had just occurred outside. Margitza was later located in the back of an Uber by the SRO as he was attempting to leave the Conner High School Campus.
Margitza told detectives that he would have followed the victim into the school if the male student hadn’t stopped him. Additionally, he stated that it was his intent to convince the victim to engage in sexual intercourse once he got her back to his hotel.
Margitza was lodged at the Boone County Detention Center and no bond has been set at this time. Attempted Kidnapping is a Class C Felony and Criminal Trespass 3rd is a violation.
