By Karen Frantz
Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said two men’s recent guilty pleas of forcing a 14-year-old into prostitution is the latest of eight sex trafficking convictions obtained by his office since tougher penalties for such crimes took effect in 2007.
“The defendants in this case admitted to forcing a young girl to perform sexual acts with various men against her will,” Brown said. “Sex trafficking is a serious and disturbing crime that my office continues to vigorously pursue and prosecute.”
According to the DA, Shaquan Gould, of 135-38 123rd St. in South Ozone Park, and Evan Harrington, of 658 E. 234th St. in the Bronx, both 21, pleaded guilty to the charges of sex trafficking in Queens Supreme Court last Thursday.
The men were accused of bringing the 14-year-old victim to Gould’s house on approximately April 19 of this year and forcing the girl to engage in prostitution acts in the home and give her earnings to them, according to the DA’s office.
According to the charges, the victim told Harrington she did not want to work for him or Gould anymore, but Harrington allegedly told her she was not allowed to leave and hit her in the face and torso.
The victim escaped April 26 and called a relative who called the police, a release from the DA’s office said.
Queens Supreme Court Justice Steve W. Paynter set sentencing for Oct. 23, and Harrington and Gould face three to nine years in prison, according to the DA release.
Reach reporter Karen Frantz by e-mail at kfrantz@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4538.
