Authorities Targeting Human Trafficking in Dallas

Posted By Law Offices of Jeffrey C. Grass || 28-Sep-2012

Human trafficking is drawing the attention of Texas legislators as recent cases across the state have pushed this sex crime into political consciousness. According to the Dallas News, human trafficking is rapidly becoming one of the most profitable illegal enterprises across the world. It has now surpassed drug trafficking, making it the second most lucrative enterprise behind arms dealing.

Human trafficking generally refers to the sale and trade of people, who are often but not always young women, for sex. These people may be coerced into prostitution or used for the manufacture of child pornography. In Dallas alone, police estimate they arrest over 100 underage women every year who have been pushed into prostitution.

The human and sex trafficking issue gained major attention this past month after a retired Army soldier was arrested for sexual assault of a child and human trafficking. The former soldier allegedly picked up a teen girl by offering her a ride home from the mall. He is then accused of taking her to a friend's house and introducing her to alcohol and methamphetamine. Both the soldier and his friend are accused of having sex with the teen.

After being picked up by police, the teen said that the men took her to several game rooms and a Wal-Mart parking lot, where she approached and solicited men. The teen told authorities that she was encouraged to lie about her age, telling prospective suitors that she was 19-years-old if she was asked.

The teen's own words highlight a major problem with many sex crime prosecutions. The men accused of exploiting these young people are often not aware of their partner's true age. While police reports and sensationalized new articles may paint the man as a pedophile, a man may legitimately believe that he was having sex with a consenting adult.

Child sexual assault charges and other sex crimes carry serious consequences in Texas. An allegation alone can be devastating to a person's reputation.

Our law firm frequently handles cases like the one mentioned above. For more information about our practice, please visit our child sex crime defense page.

Sources: www.dfw.cbslocal.com, "Human Trafficking On The Rise Across North Texas," Susy Solis, 21 September 2012 and www.dallasnews.com, "Texas legislative panel to consider ways to help young victims of sex trafficking," Margaret Nicklas, 24 September 2012