Brooklyn Park man tied up in solicitation for answering online ad

On Behalf of | Jul 9, 2013 | Sex Crimes

A 27-year-old Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, man who claims to have just answered an ad for companionship is now facing a solicitation charge. He is accused of soliciting sex from a teenager. A warrant was recently issued for his arrest and he is facing serious consequences if convicted.

This case is rather interesting as it involves a third party, an 18-year-old high school student who is accused of coercing a 16-year-old into prostitution. The two teens knew each other and were on the same cheerleading team at Hopkins High.

According to the mother of the 16-year-old, she believes her daughter was targeted by the older high school senior due to having a developmental cognitive delay. Now, the 18-year-old high school senior is facing one count of second-degree felony sex trafficking, one count of felony solicitation, and inducement and promotion of prostitution.

The 27-year-old who responded to the Backpage.com ad is now also facing a prostitution charge. However, he claims that while he did respond to the online ad, his intention was not to solicit the teenager for sex, but was for companionship. If this is true, this means he is being accused of a serious crime for a rather harmless intention.

In a case such as this one, where someone is accused of solicitation or prostitution for simply responding to an online ad, it is critical to talk with an attorney. This attorney can make sure constitutional rights were protected and that proper police procedures were followed leading up to and after the arrest. This attorney may also be able to find holes in the prosecution’s story.

Source: CBS Minnesota, “Brooklyn Park Man Charged With Soliciting Teenage Prostitute,” July 5, 2013