15-year-old alleges forced sex trafficking in Baton Rouge; woman arrested

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — The Baton Rouge Police arrested a woman accused of human trafficking on Oct. 9.

According to an affidavit, officers were called to the 11400 block of Reulet Avenue on Aug. 8 about a suspicious incident. A 15-year-old complainant claimed she was being sex trafficked and was “sick of it.”

Upon the investigator’s arrival, they were informed that the 15-year-old claimed she was forced to sell her body and that no one listened to her when she told the women with her that she didn’t want to. She advised investigators that she was allegedly brought to Baton Rouge to make money at a local football game. The victim also suggested that she was not given phone access and was allegedly given drugs, such as marijuana and methamphetamine.

After further investigation, officers found two women associated with the room. One of the women was identified as Timara Courtney, 21. Detectives spoke with the other female subject, who advised detectives that she met the juvenile when she and a male picked the juvenile and Courtney up from the Greyhound station in New Orleans in September. She said that she believes that Courtney and the juvenile were involved in commercial sex sales often, under the control of an undisclosed man in New Orleans.

The affidavit states that detectives were given permission to search the woman’s phone and found conversations between her and Courtney, in which the juvenile was referred to as “Miss Lil Rat Rat.”

Initially, Courtney told officers she barely knew the victim or what was going on. She claimed to have met the 15-year-old while living in New Orleans with a group of three people. Courtney did admit that one of the subjects was her boyfriend, and he would send her money. When asked her reason for being in Baton Rouge, she stated that she wanted to be closer to her child. The juvenile offered to stay with her so she “wouldn’t be alone.” She emphasized that she was not involved in commercial sex work.

Later, during questioning, Courtney admitted to being involved in sex work, as well as the juvenile. She claimed to have believed that the juvenile was 19 years old. She also shared that the juvenile asked her how she made money, to which she reportedly informed her that it was through “sugar baby/sugar daddy” arrangements.

Courtney told detectives that she handled the juvenile’s expenses through money she received from men. The unknown male subject told Courtney that if the juvenile wanted money, she would need to help make money. Courtney claims she was aware of the juvenile selling her body, but alleges that the juvenile didn’t listen when she advised her against doing so.

It is believed that the juvenile was being trafficked for commercial sex in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and out of state.

Courtney was arrested and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on charges of human trafficking. Her bond amount is set at $300,000, according to jail records.

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