Teenagers can make some bad and dangerous decisions, no matter how much parents try to steer them in the right direction. Young people want to be treated like adults but they can still be impulsive and immature. They may also lack the capability to appreciate the consequences of their actions, which puts them in a difficult and confusing spot.
While teens want to be treated like adults, this desire to be seen as one could seriously work against them if they are accused of a serious criminal offense. This is the difficult lesson that two teenagers and one adult are learning after their recent arrests.
According to reports, police arrested the three people after they investigated claims that there was a prostitution ring active in three Florida schools. Sources state that the two teenagers that police arrested coerced other minor students to engage in sexual activity with others to collect money and liquor.
The two students, ages 15 and 17, were arrested and charged with human trafficking after police say they recruited minor students to engage in prostitution and arranged the exchanges through sites like Facebook.
A third person, a 21-year-old man, was also arrested in connection with the alleged ring. He is accused of attempting to have sex with a 15-year-old girl who police say was participating in the ring against her will.
Being in trouble with the law can be extremely scary for anyone, but especially for young people. Teens can be vulnerable to saying things they don’t mean or admitting to things they didn’t do and it can be crucial that they have the support of an attorney. A conviction on charges like human trafficking can be devastating to a young person’s future, which is why defending against the accusations and exploring options for denying or negotiating charges can be vital.
Source: Tampa Bay Times, “Police: Students led Florida high school prostitution ring,” Nov. 25, 2014