A man in the U.S. has been charged with two serious offences related to the sexual exploitation of a child.
It comes after our investigators received a report of a foster child who was suspected of being groomed and trafficked for sex.
Hope for Justice’s team in the Midwest U.S. delivered training to foster carers in summer this year. Following the class, two foster parents asked our investigators for help to find a young girl – a foster child who was previously in their care, but who had run away. The foster carers suspected that the girl was being sex trafficked.
In the following weeks, our trained investigators worked on the case, collecting and analysing evidence.
They were able to locate the missing girl in another state, 15 hours away. They suspected that she had been picked up by a man. They also identified several potential indicators that the child was being groomed online. After further investigation, our team informed local law enforcement who were able to find the girl and bring her to safety.
Mark Herbst, our Senior Investigator in Iowa, said: “One of the core pillars for Hope for Justice’s mission is to prevent exploitation. One of the ways we accomplish this is through training courses that we deliver both in person and virtually, and this furnishes attendees’ knowledge and awareness. Knowledge and awareness are key factors to being able to make a difference.”
A suspected perpetrator has been charged with the sexual exploitation of a child and a secondary serious offence.
The case is still under investigation by law enforcement and Hope for Justice so we are unable to share further details at this time.
