California woman sentenced for attempted encounter with Novi teen

NOVI — A California woman was sentenced in Oakland County Circuit Court Sept. 29 for attempting to have sex with a teenage boy from Novi in April.

Stephanie Sudarin Sin, 32, of San Francisco, pleaded guilty to child sexually abusive activity as part of a plea agreement Sept. 8. In exchange for her plea, a second charge of using a computer to commit a crime was dropped. Each of the charges carried up to 20 years in prison.

Sin was sentenced by Chief Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Pro Tempore Martha D. Anderson to 365 days in jail, with credit for 171 days served, and five years of probation.   Anderson objected to the use of a tether in lieu of jail time. Sin is subject to random drug tests at least three times a month and is forbidden from using recreational marijuana during her probation. She is to have no contact with the victim or with minors under the age of 17 during her probation, with the exception of her own child. She is also prohibited from possessing a firearm, or consuming alcohol or entering an establishment that sells it.

She will be able to transfer her probation to the state of California via the Interstate Compact Offender Tracking System.   

According to Novi police, Sin had been talking to a 15-year-old boy from Novi online for about a year before the incident. Police said that she attempted to meet up with the boy April 10. Sin flew in from San Francisco and rented a property in Royal Oak through VRBO, an online company that connects travelers to rental properties. Sin then sent an Uber to pick up the boy at his home in Novi, police said.

When the Uber arrived, the boy got scared and told his parents, who then contacted police, Novi Police Cmdr. Jason Meier told C & G Newspapers in April.

“The Novi Police Department supports the Oakland County prosecutor and the judge’s resolution of this matter, and we are happy that justice was provided to the victim in this case,” Meier said. “We are committed to always protecting our most vulnerable populations and always encourage the youth in our community to report any abuse or suspicious activity to the police or a parent.”

Sin’s attorney, Zachary Race Gaza, declined to comment on the case, saying, “No. I don’t think I really have anything to say on her behalf.”

The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office had not yet responded to a request for comment at press time.

Meier said he encourages anyone who might have had a similar incident to tell someone or contact the local police department. The Novi Police Department can be reached at (248) 348-7100.