Melquince Macklin (left) and Daron Sneed are accused of forcing a 13-year old girl into acts of prostitution. (Source: Miami-Dade Corrections)
South Florida Crime
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Two people have been charged after they allegedly lured a teenage girl to act as a prostitute in a Miami motel.
According to his arrest report, 26-year old Daron Sneed met the 13-year old girl in MiamiGardens as she waited for her school bus last year. He reportedly befriended her; chatting with her on the phone and meeting her at the Park View elementary school playground. The girl ran away from home to join Sneed when he asked her to be his girlfriend, according to the report.
Sneed then reportedly introduced her to 20-year old Melquinice Macklin. Together they convinced the girl to have sex with men for money at motel on Biscayne Boulevard, according to the report. The girl reportedly paid Macklin and Sneed half of what she made which they spent on food and shelter.
Sneed and Macklin appeared in a Miami-Dade County courtroom Thursday.
“These two individuals coerced a child of 13 years old, in middle school, put her on Biscayne Blvd. to prostitute herself to men,” Prosecutor Warren Eth told the judge.
Sneed was denied bond. Macklin’s bond was set at more than $2 million.
Sneed coached the girl on how to conduct herself and how much to charge the “johns,” according to the report. Sneed also acted as enforcer and reportedly beat up several of the “johns” when they refused to pay.
The arrest affidavit claimed the girls engaged in 25 to 30 sexual acts at and around the King Motel on Biscayne Blvd. over the course of a week.
The manager of the motel, Henry Patel, told CBS 4’s Lauren Pastrana cops questioned him about Sneed and Macklin Wednesday afternoon.
“It’s the culture of the society that we live,” Patel said, “and unfortunately girls like this, they are made targets.”
Patel said he told police he did not recognize Sneed.
He said he works hard to keep his motel safe for customers and the surrounding community.
The girl left after Sneed reportedly threatened to kill her during a heated argument.
Macklin and Sneed both face several prostitution related charges along with human trafficking and custody interference.
Snead has also been charged with four counts of lewd and lascivious battery on a minor.
Sneed is no stranger to the law. He has previous arrests for battery, assault with a deadly weapon and human trafficking.
