William Saponaro Jr., a 52-year-old man from New Jersey, is suing Grindr after he sexually assaulted a 13-year-old boy he met through the hook-up app for gay men. Saponaro states that he “reasonably believed [the minor] was 18 years or older.” While no information is available on the quality of Saponaro’s eyesight, he apparently can read the small text in Grindr’s terms of service, which prohibits users under 18 years of age. Saponaro believes Grindr was “negligent” in its age verification of his sexual partner.
Saponaro met the boy on June 21st when he was introduced by 24-year-old Mark R. LeMunyon, who, like Saponaro, has been charged with sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child. Grindr is seeking the case to be dismissed because Saponaro isn’t even a member of the site, and only met the boy through LeMunyon. If found guilty Saponaro faces 20 years in prison. (Image: Grindr)
