A popular urban exploration YouTuber has gone from filming inside an abandoned Louisiana mall to facing criminal charges after police allegedly traced him through footage posted online. Steve Ronin, whose real name is Stephen Pamaran, also identified as Stephen Q. Pamaran, surrendered to Kenner police on August 13, 2026, over an exploration video filmed inside the abandoned Esplanade Mall.
The 33-year-old Massachusetts creator, who has more than 1 million YouTube subscribers, was booked on felony unauthorized entry of a business and misdemeanor unlawful posting of criminal activity for notoriety or publicity. The case has also renewed questions about the risks of abandoned-building exploration—and whether filming an alleged crime for an online audience can create an additional legal problem.
Small Alleged Crimes, Big Headlines: A high-profile YouTuber facing charges is one kind of story, but plenty of arrests making waves right now involve far smaller alleged offenses. Our report on the Louisiana Teen Arrested Over Circle K Snack Theft in Shreveport covers a case at the opposite end of the scale.
Why Was YouTuber Steve Ronin Arrested Over the Esplanade Mall Video?
The story began in 2025, when Pamaran entered the former Esplanade Mall with another urban exploration creator known online as RangerRickTV.
The roughly one-hour-and-13-minute video was posted primarily to RangerRickTV’s YouTube channel in September 2025. During the investigation, it had reached about 293,000 views and climbed to approximately 317,000 by mid-August 2026.
According to Kenner police and local reporting, the footage shows the two creators entering the property without permission and moving through empty storefronts inside the abandoned portion of the mall.
RangerRickTV reportedly describes Esplanade as his “childhood mall.” The video also allegedly shows the pair attempting to avoid detection by people at the still-operating Target next door.
Then, months later, the video caught the attention of investigators.
Police received an anonymous tip on June 30, 2026. Detectives worked to identify the two men and subsequently obtained arrest warrants.
| Official detail | Information |
| Creator | Steve Ronin / Stephen Pamaran |
| Age | 33 |
| Location | Kenner, Louisiana |
| Video | Urban exploration inside Esplanade Mall |
| Video posted | September 2025 |
| Anonymous tip | June 30, 2026 |
| Pamaran surrendered | August 13, 2026 |
| Views during investigation | About 293,000 |
| Views by mid-August 2026 | About 317,000 |
| Other creator | RangerRickTV |
| RangerRickTV warrant | Remained active |
Pamaran surrendered at Kenner Police headquarters on August 13. As of the latest local reporting, authorities had not located RangerRickTV. NOLA.com reported that an email sent to the creator had not been returned as of the afternoon of August 16.
When Family Ties Complicate a Case: An online tip triggering a months-later arrest shows how these stories can resurface unexpectedly, and family connections have added a strange twist to other recent legal sagas too. Our story on Dane Cook’s Half-Brother and the “Funny Money” Embezzlement Documentary digs into one of those.
What Charges Does Steve Ronin Face in Louisiana?
Pamaran was booked on two charges: felony unauthorized entry of a business, also described as unauthorized entry of a place of business, and misdemeanor unlawful posting of criminal activity for notoriety or publicity.
Kenner Police Deputy Chief Mark McCormick put the issue bluntly:
“It’s a business, and you can’t break into a business. That’s burglary.”
The second charge is particularly notable because it involves Louisiana Revised Statute 14:107.4. The law addresses recording and electronically distributing criminal activity for notoriety, publicity or public attention.
Under the statute, a person who is a principal or accessory to a crime can face consequences for recording the commission of that crime and electronically transferring the recording for those purposes. The general penalty provision allows for a maximum fine of $500, up to six months’ imprisonment, or both.
The law was originally enacted in 2008 and was amended in 2024 through legislation sponsored by state Rep. Dixon McMakin, R-Baton Rouge. The amendment specifically addressed images, livestreams and videos and added a definition of “live-stream.”
McMakin explained the reasoning behind the legislation:
“We don’t want people to try to become famous by becoming criminals.”
That puts the Esplanade Mall case in an unusual position: the alleged unauthorized entry is one issue, while the decision to record and publish the activity is potentially another.
Public Scrutiny Follows a Different Kind of Public Figure Too: Laws built around notoriety and public attention aren’t the only place where a person’s public profile becomes part of the story. Our coverage of Jason Arday and the Cambridge Academic Controversy looks at how scrutiny played out in an entirely different arena.
Steve Ronin’s Attorney Responds to the Arrest
Pamaran’s attorney, Barry Ranshi, emphasized constitutional protections and due process following the booking.
“The Constitution is not à la carte. The same Constitution that protects our fundamental freedoms guarantees every person the right to counsel and due process. We respect the judiciary, the rule of law and the legal process.”
The statement does not determine whether Pamaran is guilty or innocent. He has been booked and charged, and the allegations remain subject to the judicial process.
Why Kenner Police Say the Abandoned Mall Is Dangerous
Behind the viral exploration footage is a property authorities describe as seriously deteriorated.
The main interior of Esplanade Mall permanently closed following Hurricane Ida in 2021, although portions of the wider property remain operational, including a Target, a clearance Dillard’s, a movie theater and some restaurants.
Much of the mall interior, however, remains vacant.
Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley has called the site an “attractive nuisance” and described it as “the biggest stain in the city of Kenner when it comes to blight.”
Officials say sections of the roof are collapsing, a four-foot sinkhole sits outside, lighting is limited, the glass roof above the food court has been shattered and ceilings are falling. Police have also previously arrested at least one person accused of stripping hundreds of feet of copper from the property.
Conley has reported more than 100 trespassing incidents and more than 76 arrests at the mall since taking office.
And the problem did not stop with Pamaran’s case. On the evening of August 16, four local people aged between 18 and 19 were also arrested for trespassing.
Video Evidence in the Spotlight: Footage becoming central evidence in a legal matter isn’t unique to this case, and bodycam recordings have played a defining role in other stories making news recently. Our report on the Tony Romo Bodycam Video Released From OWI Arrest covers a similar moment where released footage shaped public reaction.
Esplanade Mall Arrest Comes After Another Urban Exploration Death
The timing of Pamaran’s arrest has made the safety debate even more intense.
Shortly after his August 13 surrender, a 17-year-old from Belle Chasse died while exploring the abandoned Plaza Tower high-rise in New Orleans with friends. The teenager fell from an interior stairwell without railings.
New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick warned about the broader trend:
“a little urban exploring”
She also described it as:
“a bit of trend…but it’s a deadly one. It’s high risk.”
Plaza Tower had already been linked to a fatal fall in 2023, when an unnamed man died after falling from the building. In 2022, 18-year-old Anthony Clawson died after falling five stories inside the abandoned Market Street Power Plant.
Other abandoned or vacant New Orleans-area sites, including the former Charity Hospital and old Six Flags amusement park in New Orleans East, have also appeared in urban exploration videos.
Pursuits and Property Crime Elsewhere in Louisiana: A blighted property drawing repeat trespassing arrests is one kind of local law-enforcement headache, and chases tied to stolen property have kept officers just as busy elsewhere. Our coverage of the LAPD Stolen Mercedes Chase Involving Dirt Bikers in Los Angeles shows a different flavor of that same problem.
What Happens Next for Steve Ronin and RangerRickTV?
Kenner police maintain that Esplanade Mall is private property and remains closed to unauthorized entry. Authorities have warned that social-media videos showing people exploring the site can encourage copycat trespassing and expose both visitors and responding officers to serious hazards.
Chief Conley has also pushed the property’s owner, the Wyn Group, to take abatement measures. That effort includes a summons to Kenner Mayor’s Court for a date around August 28, 2026, with possible further legal action if the problems are not addressed.
As of the latest verified reporting through mid-to-late August 2026, Pamaran had surrendered and been booked on the two stated charges. RangerRickTV’s warrant remained active, and authorities had not publicly reported a further resolution of his status.
No widely reported public details were available at that point concerning Pamaran’s bond status, formal arraignment outcome or ultimate resolution.
For now, the case remains at the charging stage. The allegations against Pamaran are allegations, not findings of guilt, and any final determination will have to come through the judicial process.
Corporate Accountability Making News: Risk and consequence show up in plenty of other stories this month too, including cases where companies themselves are the ones facing the fallout. Our piece on the Costco $14 Million Email Settlement: Washington Eligibility Details breaks down a very different kind of accountability moment.
Disclaimer and Sources
This article is based on a thorough review of the supplied verified information and reporting available through mid-to-late August 2026, including the NOLA.com / The Times-Picayune report by Michelle Hunter published August 16, 2026, Louisiana Revised Statute 14:107.4, the Louisiana Legislature’s 2024 Act 130 / House Bill 175, WDSU’s August 17, 2026 reporting, FOX8/WVUE’s August 18, 2026 reporting, Hoodline’s August 17, 2026 summary of local reporting, and statements from Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley and Deputy Chief Mark McCormick as reported by those outlets. The charges described are allegations and should not be treated as a finding of guilt. Bond status, court proceedings, the outstanding warrant and other details may change as the case develops.
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- Featured Image: Kindel Media on Pexels
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