Police: Man & Woman Accused Of Forcing Teen Runaway To Have Sex For Money
HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- A man and a woman are facing prostitution charges in Beaver County, after police say they allegedly forced a runaway girl to have sex with people for money.
Hopewell Police were notified by the FBI that a runaway teenager may be involved in prostitution. The teenager's name was listed as a missing child by National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
She was identified in a photo with suspect, Megan Edwards, as part of an Internet escort service found on "Pittsburgh Backpage." The service reportedly advertised "two for the price of one, anytime."
An undercover officer called the service and arranged to meet the women in the parking lot of a nearby bar.
"We ended up making two arrests in addition to locating the juvenile victim that was missing," said Hopewell Police Chief Brian Uhrmacher.
KDKA is told that Edwards and her alleged accomplice, 36-year-old Daniel King, shared a second floor apartment in the back of a home on nearby on Mill Street, not far from where arrests were made.
Police say King answered the phone and told the undercover officer the women would ready later. The report also said King was paid $20 to provide security.
King did not want appear on camera, but he claims "it's all lies," and all he did was answer the phone.
He's charged with promoting prostitution, conspiracy and possession of an instrument of a crime.
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Edwards is charged with prostitution, promoting prostitution and criminal conspiracy. She told police she knew the girl was a runaway, and was looking out for her well-being.
"When you've got a juvenile that runs away, getting in touch with police and letting them know; and as a parent, being aware of their activities and associations," said Chief Uhrmacher.
According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, of 11,000 runaways in 2015, one in five were likely to become a sex trafficking victim.
Edwards told police that she and the juvenile had been having sex for money for the past few months.
The two suspects have a preliminary hearing scheduled for Aug. 22.