Authorities in Palm Beach County are reaching out to potential victims of a Florida man accused of meeting and assaulting women through online dating apps. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office issued this appeal on July 14, following a sexual battery investigation launched last February at a Florida hospital.
The victim reported meeting Stephen Hakim on the dating app Hinge. Subsequently, detectives matched Hakim’s DNA to evidence obtained from the victim, based on court documents. Toxicology tests revealed the presence of several sleeping drugs in her blood and urine, which she insisted she hadn’t taken.
Stephen Hakim, residing in Delray Beach, was charged with sexual assault on July 8 but was released a day later on a $25,000 bond. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Incident Details
The woman informed deputies that after matching with Hakim on Hinge, they messaged each other for about an hour before the conversation transitioned to texting and video calls. They decided to meet later in the day without any specific plans. According to court documents, Hakim picked her up around 11 p.m. under the pretense of going to a bar but instead, drove her to his apartment.
She recounted the drive in his black Tesla, describing it as speeding over 90 miles per hour. Upon arriving at his sparsely furnished apartment, they drank beer and discussed various topics. When Hakim offered a massage, the victim reported feeling overly sleepy and unable to resist, leading to the assault. Post-assault, the victim accused Hakim of raping her, while Hakim denied the accusation, exhibiting what was described as gaslighting behavior.
Hakim’s attorney later stated to media outlets that the accusations were in contrast to what they described as consensual actions.
Warning for Dating App Users
Experts advise users of dating applications to be wary of warning signs, such as profiles lacking detail and quick attempts to move conversations outside the app.
A Pew Research survey from 2023 revealed that about 53% of adults aged 18 to 29 have used dating apps. Megan Cutter from the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) stated that while many matches from dating apps lead to healthy relationships, some individuals misuse these platforms for criminal activities.
Cutter emphasized that only about one in three sexual assault victims report their experiences due to threats or intimidation. She highlighted that young women aged 18 to 24 face heightened risks of assault.
Cutter offered safety tips, suggesting users avoid profiles that lack content and profiles where individuals quickly seek contact outside the app. Ensuring profile photos differ from social media images can prevent potential perpetrators from tracking personal information via reverse image searches. Additionally, stripping metadata from images is advised, as this information could be used to deduce sensitive details like location or date.
Ongoing Investigation
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office has reached out, believing there may be more victims who have not yet spoken up. The Special Victims Unit is specifically seeking public assistance to identify anyone who may have encountered Stephen Hakim through online dating.
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