Rethink Resources

Once again I’ve found a number of arrests, court cases and convictions having to do with teens in the sex trade this week.

In Texas police called out Craigslist again for being used to advertise “erotic services” of minors (in addition to adults) and arrested an adult man and woman and 16 year old girl.

In California a man who brought a girl, 14, from New York City to Orange County was sentenced to 6 1/2 years in federal prison. His defense attorney tried for less with the claim that the girl was not a “traditional victim.”

And in Illinois, one of the defendants arrested last December made a deal with the state to avoid a juvenile pimping conviction, instead she faces 8 years for child pornography. And another is facing a trial and went for the “I didn’t know” defense as he claimed he must have “inadvertently hit the record button” on the video camera aimed at the bed and himself with a teen girl. Uh huh.

Great news from New Mexico though, overdoses of illegal drugs have dropped Health Secretary Alfredo Vigil said the state is encouraged that illicit drug overdose rates have declined. But he said “we must remain vigilant in ensuring our people have access to treatment and harm reduction programs that work to keep drug users safe.” Great to see the New Mexico public health department crediting harm reduction efforts to reduce overdose deaths. Overdose is preventable! Find out how here.

Lastly, the Sacramento Bee in California has a lengthy article on young people running away from home and especially “reception centers” where youth, taken from their homes, wait for placement into foster care.

As you’re thinking about youth on run, take a look at this youth made video from Reel Girls

Dedicated to My Family -Living in a teen shelter, Nicole has learned that family is where the heart is

State: Deaths from illegal drug overdoses down (New Mexico) Wednesday, June 27, 2007 Overdoses of illegal drugs have dropped in New Mexico by 8 percent between 2005 and 2006, according to the state Department of Health. The number of deaths caused by heroin dropped 21 percent, and deaths caused by cocaine and methamphetamine during the same period held steady, the department said…Health Secretary Alfredo Vigil said the state is encouraged that illicit drug overdose rates have declined. But he said “we must remain vigilant in ensuring our people have access to treatment and harm reduction programs that work to keep drug users safe.”

Police: Pair used Craigslist for sex dates (Texas) Tuesday, June 26, 2007 Authorities say a Dallas couple used the popular Web site Craigslist to arrange money-for-sex dates for a 16-year-old girl. The girl told investigators she was given rules: “not to talk to any other guys, give all money to suspects and she couldn’t come home until she had money,” court records state. “Complainant estimates she made up to $1,000 a night.”

Missing kids a rising concern (California) Monday, June 25, 2007 Her adrenaline racing, Michelle first slipped out the door of the Children’s Receiving Home of Sacramento at age 13. In the dark, she walked along the shoulder of Auburn Boulevard, hopped on a light-rail train and found an empty office building. There, she slept on the roof. Since then, each time a police officer returned her to the home — at 13, at 14 and now at 15 — she has stayed long enough for little more than a bowl of noodles or a quick shower. Then, she’s walked right back out the door she entered.

Pimp Sentenced For Making Teen Work As Prostitute (California) Monday, June 25, 2007 A man who brought a girl, 14, from New York City to Orange County to work as a prostitute in motels in Santa Ana, Garden Grove and Westminster was sentenced Monday to 6 1/2 years in federal prison, a prosecutor said. Germaine Greene, 29, pleaded guilty last July 11 to transporting a minor in interstate commerce with the intent of engaging in prostitution, and faced a minimum sentence of five years on that count. Defense attorney Garo Ghazarian argued that Greene should receive no more than five years, arguing in court documents that the girl was not a “traditional victim.”

Urbana man takes stand, denies knowledge of guns, girl (Illinois) Thursday, June 21, 2007 An Urbana man with several convictions in his past told a Champaign County jury Wednesday he didn’t know a videotape was running the night a 16-year-old girl and an adult woman sat naked on his bed. John Haywood Sr., 46, of the 4300 block of East Airport Road, also maintained he did not know that the girl Pearl Bigham, 27, of Urbana, took to his house on the night of Dec. 7 was a teen or that there was ammunition in his house.