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In this week’s latest news, three court cases are direct results of the FBI’s ‘Innocence Lost’ initiative in which federal authorities are seeking to prosecute those who force, arrange or profit from juvenile involvement in the sex trade.

A U.S. District Court judge claimed before sentencing one man to 23 years that she was unimpressed with his statement that he created a family for the women and girls who he pimped and that he “wouldn’t send your sister or your daughter out to do that.” I’m not so sure about that since I’ve known many youth who were pimped out by their families and many pimps have no problem with encouraging or coercing family members to have sex for money.

Take a look at the latest report in the Toledo Blade on the ongoing investigation and cases resulting from major arrests in the city for the past two years or so. The Blade also links to previous articles they’ve published on community efforts and understanding of youth in the sex trade.

In Mississippi, one man pled guilty to murdering 15 year old Tawana Sandifer who had been on run and surviving on her own. The paper also reported an update on the two law enforcement officers who were investigated for “improper relationships” with her. One officer quit and another is being charged with sexual battery. The family has also filed a civil suit.

One dilemma I knew I would face with commenting on current news is that it would focus mostly on law enforcement efforts and reports of violence. It’s a reality and I’ll continue to point to articles and offer my ideas. But I do like to find articles and reports on good, innovative approaches with youth.

Here in Wisconsin, a program for youth designed to help assist youth who run away and prevent it as possible received donations to start up a small recording studio for youth. Offering creative possibilities, listening to the desires and interests of youth and making it fun for youth are all great ways for programs to have meaningful, successful programs for and with youth.

Killer gets life in ‘06 murder (Mississippi) Wednesday, March 28, 2007 Before opening arguments began, Toice Wilson, 37, pleaded guilty to the brutal beating and murder of Tawana Sandifer, a 15-year-old runaway and former honor student. He’s going to prison for life. …Wilson initially confessed to police that he killed Tawana but didn’t offer a motive. He said in his statement that he knew Tawana through prostitution. In a case unrelated to the slaying, Jackson police officer Kenneth Talton and then-fellow Precinct 4 patrolman Maurice Clark were investigated for alleged improper relationships with Tawana. Clark resigned but wasn’t charged. Talton was fired and charged with sexual battery. He is out on a $30,000 bond.

Project Youth recording studio lets teens create their own sound (Wisconsin) Wednesday, March 28, 2007 When teens talked about Fruity Loops and mixing beats, Project Youth (a program designed to assist and prevent youth from running away) program manager Cathy Pape wasn’t sure what they were talking about. Then DJ and “techie” Angie Lorenz came along and changed all that. With Lorenz’s help, and thanks to an unsolicited donation by an anonymous local foundation, Project Youth teens now have their own recording studio.

National Prostitution Ring: 2 Toledo pimps, 2 helpers will testify for prosecution (Ohio) Wednesday, March 28, 2007 “Silky Red” talked of beating his prostitutes — once so much so that he fractured his hand. “Prince,” who last year insisted he was not violent but rather “finesseful,” recently admitted to a Pennsylvania judge that he did, in fact, force girls as young as 13 to sell their bodies for him. And “Sapphire” and “Storm” — senior prostitutes charged with collecting money and training new recruits — likewise have admitted to their role in a national sex-trade ring whose commodity was young Toledo women and girls.

Man Pleads Guilty To Forcing Teens Into Prostitution (California) Wednesday, March 28, 2007 A 23-year-old Oceanside man pleaded guilty Tuesday to forcing two teenage girls to work for him as prostitutes in Los Angeles and Orange counties, as well as Las Vegas. Luther Gene Ray Jr. is expected to be sentenced to 100 months in federal prison when he goes back before U.S. District Judge Edward Rafeedie in Los Angeles on June 18.

‘Pimp of the Year’ gets long sentence (Pennsylvania) Wednesday, March 28, 2007 In a letter to U.S. District Court Judge Freda Wolfson, a man who was crowned Pimp of the Year wrote about the times when he and the prostitutes working for him “bonded as a family.” Wolfson, who was asked Friday to consider sentencing Matthew Thompkins to the minimum terms of 10 years, wasn’t buying it. “You wouldn’t send your sister or your daughter out to do that,” she said. “That’s no family.” The judge instead gave Thompkins more than 23 years - nearly the maximum sentence.