Oakland prosecutor shifts focus to ‘johns’ to fight sex trafficking

By Jennifer Chambers, jchambers@detroitnews.com

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald introduced Wednesday that her workplace will shift its strategy to human trafficking instances by specializing in the individuals who purchase business intercourse work in an effort to scale back the demand for it.

“We’re charging ‘johns,’” ​​McDonald stated at a information convention in her Pontiac workplace, referring to suspects who patronize prostitutes. “As a result of even when that is only a crime, it is a crime, and it is not a victimless crime, and with out that demand you are not going to see this profitable enterprise proceed to thrive.”

McDonald stated her workplace is presently pursuing legal prices in opposition to eight males arrested in reference to human trafficking in Auburn Hills and Southfield. Whereas authorities themselves proceed to pursue traffickers, the trafficked clients should even be held accountable, she stated.

McDonald stated the suspects had been every charged with the crime of offering prostitution providers.

McDonald’s human trafficking unit has made a number of arrests in instances throughout the province for years, usually prosecuting suspects who site visitors ladies as intercourse staff, however not essentially the shoppers who purchase intercourse.

“Many, many consumers of economic intercourse work are folks and people who’ve lots at stake and do not wish to get sued. If the stakes are excessive and the results are there, you are going to cut back demand, and it is simply not going to be as profitable,” McDonald stated.

McDonald stood alongside prosecutors, regulation enforcement officers and members of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners to announce the arrests and replace the general public on the work of the Human Trafficking Job Pressure, led by Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard.

Auburn Hills Police Chief Ryan Gagnon was amongst regulation enforcement officers who thanked McDonald and the county process pressure for his or her efforts to cease crime.

“We acknowledge this is a matter in our neighborhood,” Gagnon stated. “It is an issue all over the place, and we’re severe about eradicating it right here in Oakland County. There’s nothing occurring right here within the county.”

Oakland County’s price range included almost $500,000 for the DA’s human trafficking unit. Dave Woodward, chairman of the Oakland County Fee, spoke on the information convention and stated Oakland County works day-after-day to cease and stop human trafficking.

“I’m proud to say that Oakland County is investing extra sources within the workers and sources wanted than some other county in Michigan,” stated Woodward, D-Royal Oak.

“We all know we’re actively looking for further sources as a result of these are very advanced instances. However the message that every one the folks gathered right here and all of the people working day-after-day are sending to all of the traffickers who come to Oakland County: we are going to discover you, we are going to catch you and we are going to forestall this observe sooner or later.”