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Fall River Sex Trafficking Arrest

As reported in the January 17, 2014 edition of the Providence Journal, a Massachusetts woman has been charged with human trafficking in Fall River court. The woman is accused of providing underage prostitutes to men in bars and also drove the prostitutes to meet men. Another co-defendant was charged with child molestation for allegedly having sex with one of the prostitutes.

Pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws 11-37-8.1, first degree child molestation is defined as a person is guilty of first degree child molestation sexual assault if he or she engages in sexual penetration with a person fourteen (14) years of age or under. The penalties if convicted include imprisonment for a period of not less than twenty-five (25) years and may be imprisoned for life. If released from prison, sex offender registration and sex offender counseling are required.

Under Rhode Island law, the woman could face many charges including exploitation of a child for immoral purposes, employing a child for immoral purposes and contributing to the delinquency of a child. Pursuant to R.I.G.L. 11-9-1, exploitation for commercial or immoral purposes is broadly defined to include many types of activites, specifically as every person who shall exhibit, use, employ or shall in any manner or under pretense so exhibit, use, or employ any child under age of eighteen (18) years to any person for the purpose of prostitution or for any other lewd or indecent act. The penalties if convicted include imprisonment not exceeding twenty (20) years, a fine not exceeding twenty thousand dollars ($20,000), or both.

Employment for unlawful purposes, under R.I.G.L. 11-9-2, states every person who shall take, receive, hire, employ, exhibit, or have in custody, or who shall cause to be taken, hired, employed, exhibited, or held in custody, any child under the age of sixteen (16) years, for any of the purposes prohibited in Section 11-9-1, shall be held guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be punished for every such offense in the manner provided in that section.

Contributing to the delinquency of a child pursuant to R.I.G.L. 11-9-4, includes every person who knowingly or willfully encourages, aids, contributes to, or in any way causes any child under the age of sixteen (16) years to violate any law of this state, or the ordinances of any town or city in this state, or who knowingly or willfully encourages, aids, contributes to, or in any way causes any child under the age of sixteen (16) years to be guilty of any vicious or immoral conduct. If convicted the penalties include a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) or be imprisoned not exceeding one year.

If you or a family member has been charged with child molestation, exploitation of a child or other sex crimes, please allow Attorney Robert H. Humphrey's reputation, experience and skill to successfully guide you through the legal process. Please contact Attorney Robert H. Humphrey, Esq., at 401-816-5862 or e-mail him at rhh@rhumphreylaw.com.

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