Although a high school student is being charged with crimes concerning prostitution, some are calling her a victim in the case. The 20-year-old woman was placed into custody last month after being pulled over in another state driving a car carrying other female passengers, cell phones and a bag of marijuana.
The woman had been placed on a national missing persons list by her mother, who said she had been missing since July. She said although she was hesitant to do so, she asked for help from the local police department. However, she said it took multiple attempts to contact police in order for an officer to listen. Her daughter, she said, has the mental capacity of a 9-year-old, cannot make mature decisions and cannot take care of herself because of her ADD, bipolar disorder and possible trauma sustained in childhood.
Thanks to a tip, the girl’s mother went online to a site that advertises adult services. It was there she found her daughter and discovered the girl was being advertised for such services in five states within the five-week period she had been missing. She said photos of her daughter were on the site, which began looking more professional as time continued.
Although the mother was happy to have her daughter found, she was shocked to find out her daughter was being charged with sex crimes and now feels as if her daughter has been stolen from her.
Because of the lack in mental capability, her mother said it is likely she was trafficked into prostitution. In addition, the professional quality of the photos on the website also led her to believe money was involved. The girl’s mother says she knows her daughter would never get caught up in such a business, and believes she is not a criminal.
Source: WAVE NBC 3, “Wilmington high schooler charged in sex ring,” Michelle Li, Oct. 5, 2012
