FORT SMITH, Ark. -
Police say teenage girls were being put to work as prostitutes in Fort Smith, after a woman was arrested this week and charged with promoting prostitution.
While investigating another case, police say they came across information that someone in Fort Smith was taking young girls around the city to men who paid to have sex with them.
Then a young relative of the suspect, 39-year-old Joy Trotter, came forward and confirmed what police had been told, even admitting that she had worked as a prostitute when she was 14. Then late Wednesday, Trotter was brought to the Fort Smith police station and arrested.
"We have at least four different victims right now," said Detective Jeff Taylor. "She had been working as a prostitute, and she eventually recruited some other girls to help her."
Detective Jeff Taylor says they've identified several victims so far, and are working to find out who the men were that paid trotter to bring the girls by. What's surprising is that according to their initial investigation, some of the girls willingly took part.
"The enticement wasÂ…making some money, and that's just one of the things teenagers like," said Taylor.
Child advocates say that in many states, children being used as prostitutes often wind up arrested for other crimes and treated as criminals, not as victims.
Prosecutor Joey Self says that the punishment for the crime also changes because children were used for sex, and if investigators find out trotter took girls into Oklahoma for sex, it could result in federal charges.
"OrdinarilyÂ… promoting prostitution is a misdemeanor, but since a minor is involved it is a Class D Felony, punishable by up to six years in the penitentiary, up to a $10,000 fine, or both," he said.
But police say it's rare that they find children being used as prostitutes in Fort Smith. However, they advise that parents should still make their children aware there are people out there that are ready to tempt them into the sex trade.
While investigating another case, police say they came across information that someone in Fort Smith was taking young girls around the city to men who paid to have sex with them.
Then a young relative of the suspect, 39-year-old Joy Trotter, came forward and confirmed what police had been told, even admitting that she had worked as a prostitute when she was 14. Then late Wednesday, Trotter was brought to the Fort Smith police station and arrested.
"We have at least four different victims right now," said Detective Jeff Taylor. "She had been working as a prostitute, and she eventually recruited some other girls to help her."
Detective Jeff Taylor says they've identified several victims so far, and are working to find out who the men were that paid trotter to bring the girls by. What's surprising is that according to their initial investigation, some of the girls willingly took part.
"The enticement wasÂ…making some money, and that's just one of the things teenagers like," said Taylor.
Child advocates say that in many states, children being used as prostitutes often wind up arrested for other crimes and treated as criminals, not as victims.
Prosecutor Joey Self says that the punishment for the crime also changes because children were used for sex, and if investigators find out trotter took girls into Oklahoma for sex, it could result in federal charges.
"OrdinarilyÂ… promoting prostitution is a misdemeanor, but since a minor is involved it is a Class D Felony, punishable by up to six years in the penitentiary, up to a $10,000 fine, or both," he said.
But police say it's rare that they find children being used as prostitutes in Fort Smith. However, they advise that parents should still make their children aware there are people out there that are ready to tempt them into the sex trade.
