Venice police arrested a second teenager in a
prostitution ring going around three Sarasota County high schools.
WTSP reports: Police say the ring leaders were
a 17-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy.
Police
say the girl, a student from Sarasota High School, is behind a prostitution
ring for young girls. The investigation led police to Sarasota High, but the
investigation began in Venice.
Venice
Police say the Sarasota High student had help. Also arrested was a 15-year-old
boy, a former student from Venice High School. Police say both teens created
the prostitution ring in August.
They’re
charged with human trafficking. The 15-year-old was already in custody on
unrelated charges, according to Captain Tom Mattmuller, Venice Police
Department.
Because
both alleged ringleaders are minors, 10 News will not identify them. Click here
to learn more about the 10 News Crime Guidelines.
“The
motive behind it: money and alcohol. Trading money and alcohol for sex,” says
Mattmuller.
Police
started investigating in October, when four students at Venice High School
reported the prostitution ring to the School Resource Officer.
“That’s
disgusting to think someone, a girl, would set that all up to hurt other kids,”
said Sarasota high school senior, Brian Johnson.
“That’s
awful that she would do that at all and for what? money and alcohol? She is not
even old enough to drink!” said another Sarasota high school student
16-year-old Emily Smith.
Using a
search warrant, police looked at the Sarasota High School students’ Facebook
page and found a business plan with rates such as $50 to $70 for oral sex, $100
for sex with a virgin. The cut for prostitutes was 40 percent.
“Why
pimp out old hoes when I have fresh young hoes I can give up for money?” the
Sarasota High student wrote in one Facebook exchange to a business partner,
adding, “As long as I’m getting paid I’m trafficking all these (expletive
deleted).”
Police
say the girl used Facebook messaging to set up the meetings with “Johns.”
That
investigation also led police to John Michael Mosher. The 21-year-old is
charged with sexual battery on a victim older than 12. Police say he paid a
15-year-old girl from Riverview High School $40 and a bottle of alcohol for sex.
Venice
police say the investigation continues, and there may be more victims.
Mattmuller says, “It doesn’t surprise us. It’s more disappointing than
anything.”
Police
said none of the sexual activities they are investigating happened on school
grounds.
Follow Me
On Twitter & Instagram: @effiongeton
No comments:
Post a Comment