8/14/2015 – OKC, OK — Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater’s office has made way for three Texas human sex traffickers to return to our streets after his office agrees to a plea deal that results in only probation for two of the three child predators. Proving once again that mandatory sentencing for human sex traffickers is only effective when not dealing with a DA’s office that has a history of sympathy for such offenders.
JohnTV previously reported on the arrests of Christafer DeWhite Walker, 27, Stephen Anthony Marshall, 27, and Shaquita Michelle Taylor-Felder, 26, back in January after all three were arrested at a hotel near NE 50th and Lincoln Blvd.
The arrests were a result of a sting conducted by the Oklahoma City Vice Unit and members of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics Human Trafficking Division.
According to court records, an undercover officer replied to an online ad for prostitution posted to backpage.com. The female who answered the phone directed the undercover officer to room 142 at the Lincoln Inn Hotel & Suites.
Once the officer arrived, the female inside the room was placed under arrest after she agreed to perform specific sexual activities for $120. Shortly after her arrest officers learned that she was only 17-years old and listed as a runaway out of Houston, Texas.
Additional undercover officers monitoring the hotel parking lot identified Walker, Marshall and Felder, who were sitting in a vehicle, as accomplices in the teen’s prostitution activities. All three were placed into custody and transported to the Oklahoma County Jail on complaints of human sex trafficking.
So serious were the allegations against the trio, they were denied bond. Twelve days after their arrest, all three were formally charged in Oklahoma County with human trafficking.
Oklahoma law states that any individual under the age of 18 cannot consent to prostitution and therefore anyone who participates in, aids or abets or encourages their prostitution activities is guilty of human sex trafficking. State law also dictates that anyone found guilty of the human sex trafficking of someone under the age of 18 shall be imprisoned for no less than 15-years (to life) and face fines up to $250,000.
For whatever reason, Assistant District Attorney Carter Jennings and Oklahoma County Judge Fred Doak don’t seem to think the pimping of our daughters is that big of a deal – as evident in the unbelievably light plea bargain that was struck.
Last Monday all three scumbag defendants appeared in court (with their tax payer funded defense attorneys) and had their human trafficking charges reduced to conspiracy to commit a felony; pandering. All in an effort to ensure they didn’t serve serious prison time or have to register as sex offenders.
All three received sentences of 10-years suspended (probation), no fine and were ordered to pay $45 victim’s compensation and court costs.
Because of Walker’s criminal past he was also ordered to serve one year in jail with credit for time already served.
So, just like that, three violent predators were returned to our streets because the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s office refuses to do its job.
For new readers to JohnTV, we have many times reported on DA Prater’s lax attitude towards pimps and human sex traffickers. Which shouldn’t surprise anyone since DA Prater told the Oklahoman in June that his office has a policy of “being more lenient” with young adult child traffickers.
Just last month DA Prater’s office dismissed charges of transporting a child for the purpose of prostitution against an Oklahoma City woman with a history of prostitution herself.
Also in June, DA Prater agreed to probation for an OKC man originally charged with human trafficking (later reduced to pandering).
And, who can forget the Edmond man who admitted to the sex trafficking of a pregnant 16 year old that DA Prater’s office let go with probation and no official criminal record. Yeah, a few months later and that same scumbag was trying to kill police officers and was allegedly prostituting a new even younger girl.
In reality, there are just too many examples of DA Prater’s hug a thug mentality when it comes to pimps and sex traffickers…. you can read about the most recent examples at this link.
Shaquita Michelle Taylor-Felder, accused human trafficker of a minor.
