Teen rescued from trafficking, prostitution in Houston on Thanksgiving Day
A 17-year-old Texas girl was rescued from trafficking and forced prostitution in the Houston area after Harris County deputies went undercover and arrested three people Thanksgiving Day.
The girl, a runaway from La Grange, was reported to have been trafficked to the Express Inn Motel at 16720 North Freeway, officials wrote in a press release Friday. The alleged traffickers posted Backpage ads to social media, deputies say.
Tevin Brown, 25; Kendra Kimball, 23; and Jaimian Sims, 25, were arrested in connection to the case. Sims was charged with aggravated promotion of prostitution and unlawful possession of a firearm. Kimball faces a charge of compelling prostitution of a minor and Brown was charged with unlawful carrying of a weapon. One of them reportedly threatened the girl by holding a gun to her heard to make her submit to prostitution.
The teen was released into the custody of her mother and grandmother.
"Rescuing this teen on Thanksgiving Day by our law enforcement was something to really give thanks for," Constable Mark Herman said in the release. "I am very proud of our law enforcement men and women who worked on this special day."
Half an ounce of marijuana and $6,467 in cash were also recovered from the scene.
