Pubdate: Wed, 05 Jun 2002
Source: Register-Herald, The (WV)
Copyright: 2002 The Register-Herald
Contact:  http://www.register-herald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1441
Author: Jessica Shifflett

ILLEGAL SEX TRADE GROWING IN AREA

The arrest of three Beckley women for prostitution in two weeks has local 
law enforcement officials concerned. Debra Cozart, 32, of Beckley, was 
arrested Wednesday around 10:30 a.m. after allegedly soliciting money in 
exchange for sex during an undercover operation on Heber Street, according 
to Beckley Police Detective Lt. Cedric Robertson.

While the suspect was arrested on misdemeanor charges and taken to Southern 
Regional Jail before bailing out on a $500 bond, Robertson and other 
officials say an overall increase in the illegal sex trade in Beckley is 
alarming.

Beckley police arrested two women on prostitution just last week.

"We see this as an increasing problem within the city limits of Beckley, 
and we are trying to target the problem area as much as we possibly can," 
said the chief detective. "Before, in the past, we've had maybe two or 
three complaints a year.

"Here in the last two or three months it's been several complaints. I think 
mainly it's due to drugs," added Robertson. "The drug trade has grown, not 
only in Beckley, but I would say statewide, in the past year. We're getting 
an influx of people from out of state bringing drugs in and guns to sell. "

According to TRIDENT Task Force Coordinator Ronnie Booker, the increase in 
prostitution comes as no surprise: He says the drug trade grows 
substantially every year and addicts will resort to illegal activities to 
obtain money to support their habit.

"It's our belief (on the drug force) that it's based upon the addict's 
preference. If the addict thinks he or she is good at stealing stuff, they 
will steal things to use the profits of it to trade or to sell to buy 
drugs," he explained.

"If a person is comfortable with using their bodies, they will use that. 
That's probably the last phase of addiction - when it comes down to selling 
their bodies."

Booker shared his belief that those selling sex tend to be drug addicts 
whose lifestyle places them at risk of being robbed, cheated, beaten or 
murdered by those offering them money for sex.

He added the exchange of drugs for sex among those entrenched in the area's 
illegal drug culture is nothing new, but Beckley addicts overtly soliciting 
cash for sex points to heightened levels of addiction.

"There's a lot of trading sex for drugs going on without money. That's 
typical crack house method," he explained. "It's nothing new to the area 
pertaining to trading sex for drugs. However, we have seen a rise in the 
displaying of prostitution by known drug users. It seems like they don't 
care anymore, they'll just be out in the open and do it.

"Normally when a person becomes addicted they only care about one thing and 
that's feeding the addiction," he said. "My advice is don't use drugs. 
Nothing good can come from it."

Robertson said at this phase of the crackdown in Beckley, his office has 
not begun to arrest "john" - those who avail themselves of the prostitutes, 
but instead are concentrating on arresting prostitutes themselves.

Those willing to pay for sex are possibly addicts themselves, Booker said.

"It's possible to get addicted to ... sex ...," Booker said, adding that 
johns place themselves at risk of sexually transmitted diseases and robbery.

Like the drug trade, the sex trade crosses socio-economic lines, according 
to Booker.

"I could tell you some stories that would shock you of who pays ... for 
prostitution. I would say that like drugs, paying for sex affects every 
socio-economic status. It's just another bad choice in life."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Ariel