Teenage Girl in Jail After Rendezvous Goes Wrong

A Sturtevant teenager had the cops looking for her after a sex offender called to report she left his place with more than a memory. 

The 35-year-old sex offender told officers he met 16-year-old Ashley Haigh online, and that he invited her to his place after she told him she was 19. But, at the end of her visit, she took $600 cash, his truck and his pitbull puppy, he told police.

Haigh was charged Monday in Racine County Circuit Court with a single count each of felony theft from a person or corpse; operating a motor vehicle without the owner's consent; theft of moveable property (special facts); and a single count of misdemeanor theft. If convicted of all charges, she faces up to 22 years, nine months imprisonment and up to $55,000 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint, on Dec. 2, Racine Police were called to the home of a man who said he was missing about $600 in cash, the keys to his truck, the truck itself and his 8-week old pit bull puppy.

The man told officers he met Haigh in an Internet chat room a few days earlier, and that she told him she was 19. The complaint states the man admitted to officers that he is 35 years old and a registered sex offencer, after he got a 16-year-old girl pregnant a few years ago. Police confirmed the man was not currently under Department of Corrections supervision though he does have to keep his registry information up-to-date.

Officers say the man had the messages where Haigh confirmed her age as 19. There were additional messages from after the man discovered his belongings were missing where the defendant claimed she took his truck because she was afraid of him. Police reports indicate that when the man told Haigh he was going to call the police, she threatened him back, saying that if he called police she would tell officers they had sex.

The man gave police the girl's last name and address, and they went to her home the next day. Haigh was not there, but a relative retrieved the puppy from the garage and turned it over to police. The relative also told police the girl had come home with the truck and puppy, saying they belonged to a friend who had been arrested and she was keeping them until the friend got out of jail.

At some point, officers say Haigh texted them about where she left the truck and promised to come in for an interview. When she didn't, a warrant for her arrest was issued. Haigh was apprehended, and was in jail when she was charged with battery by prisoners. She was released and taken into custody again. Haigh remains in custody on these charges with a $5,000 cash bond. 

Her next court appearance is Jan. 23 on the theft charges and on Feb. 8 for the battery charges.