Warrant: Aurora man charged with grooming had hoped to 'stage' kidnapping with Batavia teen

A 21-year-old Aurora man recently arrested by Batavia police on charges he groomed and sexually abused a 16-year-old girl, had planned to "stage a kidnapping" with her help and flee to Georgia, according to a search warrant. Anthony J. Popela also provided the girl with his old cellphone so the two could communicate.