FLORENCE COUNTY, SC (WBTW) – Sex trafficking is a large industry in South Carolina and prostitution in your community keeps the problem rooted on our streets.
One Pee Dee police department says its taking a strong, proactive approach to stopping the problem in its community – one it says is a 24/7 business statewide. They’re working to ease the crime by not only targeting the prostitutes, themselves, but also the men and women looking for pleasure.
The Florence Police Department gave News13 exclusive access to one of its undercover prostitution stings, specifically targeting “Johns.” Major Carlos Raines told our team the department’s efforts to target the financial side of local prostitution is yielding results.
More than 200 people showed interest in an ad agents posted online, soliciting sexual encounters at an area hotel. A handful of agents watched in the next room over as unsuspecting “Johns” met with an undercover Florence police officer posing as a prostitute.
“If you do come here into the City of Florence, the probability of you getting busted is pretty great,” Raines said.
Raines says the “Johns” they arrested are married, single, locals, out-of-staters, and even teenagers. All are willing to pay $10 to as much as $400 for a sexual encounter. Agents were quick to tell News13 the city’s location along Interstate 95 fuels prostitution in town, and also adds to drug, crime and health problems.
“Whether you’re the John or the prostitute, you’re putting yourself in a situation where you could become a victim of a potential robbery or any number of things.”
During the sting, Florence Police arrested 12 people for solicitation of prostitution.
In 2015, Florence Police handled 38 prostitution and solicitation cases. This year, they’ve already had 23 and are anticipating the number to increase.
As current law stands, fines start at no more than $200 and/or 30 days in jail for the solicitation of prostitution. Senate Bill 986 looks to cut the number of solicitation cases by raising fines for people caught soliciting sex.
The bill passed third reading Wednesday with a 44-0 vote in the South Carolina Senate. A companion bill remains in the South Carolina House of Representatives.
“I think, you know, there’s a great need for this type of legislation. I think god common-sense legislation and good common-sense legislators want this bill passed,” explained Sen. Katrina Shealy (R-District 23), who sponsored the bill.
S. 986 increases fines paid per solicitation offense, as follows:
(B)(1) A person who violates a provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction:
(a) for a first offense, must be fined not less than two hundred fifty dollars and not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both;
(b) for a second offense, must be fined not less than five hundred dollars and not more than three thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than six months, or both;
(c) for a third or subsequent offense, must be fined not less than one thousand five hundred dollars and not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
(2) A person who violates a provision of this section where the prostitute is severely or profoundly mentally disabled, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than one thousand five hundred dollars and not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.“
The bill originally included a possible assignment to the sex offender registry upon a second or third offense, which proved extremely controversial. While the bill passed through the Senate Judiciary Committee with that element included, Shealy says Sen. Gerald Malloy (D-District 29) filed a minority report – essentially causing the bill’s progression to come to a standstill.
“The fine is not what’s affecting them, but you embarrass them by putting them on the Sex Offender Registry. Let their friends and family know what they’re doing and that’s going to be the biggest deterrent of all.”
Lawmakers say they had no choice but to compromise to get the bill to the full senate and removed the possibility of being assigned to the South Carolina Sex Offender Registry. With the successful passing of third reading on Wednesday, the bill will now move into the South Carolina House of Representatives.
“If the fine is $200, they just get out a wad of money, peel off $200 and say ‘See ya later!'” Robert Healy, volunteer for Lighthouse for Life, said. Lighthouse for Life is an organization that works to fight sex trafficking in South Carolina.
Healy has been tracking the progress of the legislation and says while controversial, threatening assignment to the Sex Offender Registry was the scare tactic needed to help curb the desire to solicit sex.
“In South Carolina, it’s big. Bigger than anyone could ever imagine. A fine alone is not going to deter this crime,” he said.
While the bill did not advance with all of its original components, both Healy and Raines think the idea of improved legislation could still make a dent in the crime.
