New Hampshire Man Arrested in KY charged with human trafficking and sex crimes involving minor

BOONE COUNTY, Ky  - A man from New Hampshire was arrested in Boone County Friday in connection with human trafficking and sex crimes with a minor, according to Sgt. Anthony Theetge, a spokesperson with the Boone County Sheriff’s Office. 

Sgt. Theetge says that Paul A. Vallatini, 37, is facing five counts of distribution of obscene matter to a minor and one count of human trafficking of a victim under 18. 

On Friday, deputies responded to an anonymous tip regarding a man from out of town who was meeting a juvenile girl, possibly for sexual purposes, Sgt. Theetge said. 

IT Expert, Dave Hatter, says unfortunately, kids are online and exposed to people pretending to be someone they’re not to strike up rapport.

“So many of these folks that are in this space are basically con artists and this is the scary thing for parents, you know, occasionally these things like this story here happens,” Hatter said. “Someone shows up, they come and try to meet your child in person, and it goes beyond just the online situation.”

Hatter says teens getting solicited for sex or other inappropriate requests isn’t limited to Snapchat users.

“I get this is really hard for parents because unless you have access to all of their devices, phones, tablets, computers, and let’s be realistic, they can go to the parents’ house, they can go to school or go to a library and continue a conversation and using apps that you don’t know about.”

Sgt. Theetge says that the girl told deputies that she was talking with Vallatini through Snapchat, where he sent her nude pictures of himself at least five times.

Sgt. Theetge says the girl had picked Vallatini up from the airport the day before, and over two days, he had taken her shopping, buying her various gifts, including underwear. 

Sgt. Theetge adds that deputies discovered that Vallatini was staying at a hotel, and the Boone County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant on his room. 

Deputies discovered items that they believe support the girl’s claims, along with multiple condoms in his duffle bag, according to Sgt. Theetge.

Sgt. Theetge says Vallantini is held at the Boone County Jail.

Hatter says for parents to monitor their children’s devices and educate them on the dangers of social media.

“Hopefully as more of this news gets out, bad guys will realize like, ‘Hey there’s a strong possibility I’ll get caught if I do this and, you know, it helps educate the public so that hopefully they’re not the next victim,” Hatter said.