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Florida man in custody after targeting young girls for sex

AP police, emergency

The Martin County police department has arrested a 21-year-old man who reportedly used a social media app to target young girls for sex.

Blaine Korbin Hulten was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force in Pinellas County on Thursday morning after he went into hiding when he learned he was being investigated.

Officials say they began investigating Hulten after they received a tip from school resource officer who learned that Hulten was taking several underaged girls to a mall to buy underwear.

Authorities then began watching Hulten’s social media accounts and found that he’d been using Snapchat to target underage Treasure Coast girls.

Investigators say he had been targeting girls since January using the profile names Blainefirerx, firex1, and cstripe623.

It was found that he had sex with at least two of the girls, one being only 13.

The Martin County Sheriff’s Office says they believe their might be other victims. Authorities are asking the public to contact them at the MCSO’s Criminal Investigations Division at 772-220-7060 if you or your child has had contact with Hulten.

Hulten has been arrested on charges of lewd and lascivious battery, as well as at least 40 more charges including transmitting harmful material, production of child pornography, solicitation, and traveling to meet a minor.