Female Accused of Prostituting Teens
SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (KCBS)_ During a recent sting in the Canal area, police discovered a 14-year-old runaway from Richmond. Police spokeswoman Margeaux Rohrbacher says she was involved in prostitution. Before being taken to juvenile hall, the spokeswoman says 18-year-old Tia Powell, also of Richmond, was spotted near the teenager.
"Another woman walked by several times and it appeared she was looking for the young girl. Officers contacted her and spoke to her and found evidence that she was in fact the young girl's pimp," says Rohrbacher.
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Rohrbacher says Ms. Powell was taken into custody and booked into the Marin County Jail. She's facing pandering charges. Authorities say the 14-year-old may not have been the only victim.
"There may have been another young girl with her and we believe that this woman brought these girls with her for the purposes of prostitution," says Rohrbacher.
When asked about the age of the second girl, Rohrbacher said contact had not been made with her so that her age was unknown.
According to the Marin County District Attorney's Office, Powell faces three charges—the most serious is a felony for pimping a minor under the age of 16. She could get up to eight years in state prison, if convicted.
