Two St. Robert women each face a felony offense in connection to allegedly facilitating the prostitution of a 13-year-old girl, according to documents filed in circuit court.
Emma Marie Simpson, born 2004, and Danika Marie Gillen, born 1995, are each charged with one count of sexual trafficking of a child. Both were incarcerated in the Pulaski County Jail on a $500,000 bond.
Deputies with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department were notified Wednesday, Oct. 18, that a juvenile 13-year-old runaway was located in the 14000 block of State Route Z in St. Robert, according to the case’s probable cause statement.
While on scene with personnel from Missouri Children’s Division, the statement says items of a sexual nature were located in the juvenile’s purse along with marijuana paraphernalia. Drug contraband is also cited in the statement as having been located in plain view within the room the juvenile was found. This included numerous baggies containing a crystalline substance as well as a syringe containing liquid.
Also present in the room was Gillen, who the statement quotes as making a spontaneous statement the 13-year-old was in a relationship with an adult male. Gillen was subsequently arrested and booked into the Pulaski County Jail.
The statement details the juvenile had a tattoo of a dollar sign on her left middle finger, which it cites as a common mark found on victims of human trafficking. The 13-year-old also tested positive for marijuana, methamphetamine and ecstasy. Photographs of a young unknown female were additionally found during a search of the room. Numerous digital devices such as cell phones and tablets were also seized.
During the investigation, the statement says the South Central Drug Task Force provided information possible prostitution activity was taking place involving Simpson. It details Simpson would allegedly receive $200 and the female juvenile would receive $300. The activity was described as occurring in Rolla.
Simpson was arrested Wednesday, Oct. 18, and booked into the Pulaski County Jail. Warrants for both Gillen and Simpson were issued Oct. 19.
The charges for which Simpson and Gillen were arrested are merely accusations and are not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of the charges must be presented before the court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
