Cobb County Pimp: Man Accused Of Trafficking 16-Year-Old

Police in Cobb County accused Timothy Rasheed Walker of trafficking a 16-year-old runaway, a problem that could be growing in the region.

Police arrested the 24-year-old April 5 on Akers Ridge Drive where he was charged with three other felonies related to possession of firearms.

Walker allegedly arranged meetings with potential clients on backpage.com and took profits from the girl, who stayed on his couch. It is said that she was forced into prostitution by threats of physical harm.

Cobb District Attorney Vic Reynolds told MDJ Online that his Crimes Against Children Unit is currently investigating between 12 and 15 similar cases, and there's more cases coming in.

A 2010 study conducted by Atlanta-based youthSpark states that about 28,000 men purchase sex from underaged girls a year, with 10,000 of those buying sex more than once a year.

The most common victims of this trafficking are "at-risk" girls, such as runaways, truants or previous sex-crime victims.

Reynolds attributed the rise in such crimes to ease of access provided by technology, and said local prosecutors have worked harder in recent years to pursue cases not picked up by federal prosecutors.

“With a mobile society it’s not difficult for someone to either travel to the area where the child is being trafficked, or it’s not difficult for the child to be transported to meet someone who is willing to pay for these kinds of sexual acts,” Reynolds said.

Georgia strengthened its previous trafficking law in 2011.

Walker's fate currently remains unclear.