An 18-year-old Hopkins High School (Minn.) student named Montia Marie Parker has been arrested and charged with two felonies after she allegedly convinced a 16-year-old classmate to perform acts of prostitution. According to KARE 11, Parker has been charged with second degree sex trafficking and promotion of prostitution.
A criminal complaint reportedly stated that Parker had a conversation with her cheerleading teammates — one of who is the victim — on March 1 about finding a way to make money. Someone allegedly told the 16-year-old girl that she could earn money by performing oral sex on men, and investigators say she was contacted by Parker via Facebook shortly thereafter.
The victim says Parker asked her to send pictures over Facebook that were “not too nasty but kinda cute” and that Parker then used the photos for an ad on Backpage.com.
On March 5, the victim claims she received a text message from Parker directing her to leave school and meet her at her car. The 16-year-old, Parker and two other girls drove to an apartment where the victim performed oral sex on a man in exchange for $60. Parker allegedly kept the money and deposited it into her bank account and gave none to the victim.
Prosecutors say Parker instructed the girl, who is said to have “cognitive impairments” that leave her vulnerable, to leave school again the next day and tried to convince her to have vaginal sex with another man. She reportedly did not want to and offered oral sex instead, but the client turned it down and Parker and the teen left with no money.
The victim’s mother reportedly brought the scandal to light when she was contacted by the school on March 5 and informed of her daughter’s unexcused absence. She later checked her daughter’s cell phone and discovered text messages between her and Parker. Parker admitted to prostituting the teen when questioned by authorities.
Where do we begin with this one? Parker’s alleged actions are wrong on so many levels that it’s tough to know where to start. We have heard plenty of alarming stories about prostitution in the past, but this one is definitely one of the more disturbing.
