James Pope, 18, of Manhattan and Tito Guzman, 22, of Brooklyn both face…
By Dustin Brown
Two men were arrested early Saturday morning for allegedly forcing a 12-year-old girl to prostitute herself along Queens Plaza in Long Island City, the district attorney said.
James Pope, 18, of Manhattan and Tito Guzman, 22, of Brooklyn both face charges of promoting prostitution in the second degree and endangering the welfare of a child, Queens DA Richard Brown said. If convicted, they face up to 15 years in prison.
“The conduct alleged is truly depraved and represents the worst form of child abuse,” Brown said. “The young victim will bear the emotional and physical scars of that which occurred for the rest of her life.”
According to the criminal complaint, the girl told police that Guzman took her out to Queens Plaza South four times in a two-week period before June 6, where he instructed her how much to charge for particular sexual acts she would perform.
She told police she gave all of the money she earned to Guzman, who placed it in a drawer in a hotel.
The girl was born on June 12, 1989, and turned 12 during the time she was being forced to prostitute herself, based on information he father provided to police. She had known Guzman for several months before she began working the streets for him, the complaint said.
After being arrested June 5 for jumping a turnstile in the Bronx, Guzman instructed the girl to go out on the street and prostitute herself under the watchful eye of Pope, the criminal complaint said.
Police on anti-prostitution patrol noticed the victim walking with Pope at 28th Street and 42nd Road near Queens Plaza south at 3:30 a.m. on June 6, the DA said. As Pope trailed her from the sidewalk, the victim approached a car and leaned into the window before walking in the street along passing traffic.
Noticing how young the girl looked, police stopped the pair and arrested Pope after learning she was only 12 years old, the DA said. He allegedly threatened to cut her with a knife if she returned with anything less than $200, the criminal complaint said.
Police later charged Guzman after Pope told them about his role in the girl’s prostitution, the DA said.
Reach reporter Dustin Brown by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 154.
