MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Sex trafficking charges have been dismissed against five suspects who were accused of kidnapping a mother and her one-month-old daughter and forcing the mother into prostitution. But three of the suspects still face charges in other cases.
According to court records, charges of especially aggravated kidnapping, trafficking for commercial sex act and possession of a firearm were dismissed due to "lack of prosecution" for all five suspects.
Three of the suspects - 30-year-old Quintarius White, 26-year-old Kierra Clark, and 21-year-old Treasure Akins - face charges in other cases. The three were originally arrested Saturday, June 3.
Latest charges
White, Clark, and Akins all face charges of aggravated assault in an incident from May 25, 2023. Charges were dismissed for another woman in this case.
According to the affidavit, a woman told Memphis Police a friend had introduced her to White, and they all went to a hotel on S. Third. At the time, the woman said they wanted her to take White to Tupelo, and when she refused, he had the three women beat her, according to the affidavit.
Dismissed charges
White and Clark had also been also charged in another sex trafficking case from the same day as the kidnapping, June 3, 2023, but that case was dismissed on July 21, due to "lack of prosecution" according to court records. According to the affidavit in that case, a woman told police she was approached by Akins who tried to recruit her to prostitution. She told investigators when she refused, Akins and Clark beat her. The affidavit said the victim told officers the two forced her to perform sex acts for money, and gave the money to White. According to court records, Akins was not charged in that case.
In the other case that was dismissed, Memphis Police Department (MPD) said officers responded to a disturbance call in the 3200 block of S. Third St. Saturday, June 3.
According to an affidavit, a woman and her one-month-old daughter were in their hotel room when the four suspects - which included Clark, Akins and White - forced themselves into the room and physically assaulted the woman, kidnapped her and her child, then took them to another hotel and forced her to have sex with a stranger.
The affidavit said the victim was able to contact a friend, and her friend called police, who responded and arrested the suspects.
Charges were dismissed, according to court records, for all the suspects, including a fifth suspect who was accused of giving the suspects a ride between hotels and acting as a watchman.
ABC24 has reached out to the Shelby County District Attorney General's Office for more information on why the case was dismissed.
