An Oakland County man is accused of leveraging electronic cigarettes to coerce a teenager into sexual acts, a situation that has prompted serious charges and broader concerns about predatory behavior. Darren Joshua Bradford, 24, of Berkley, is facing allegations of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, which could result in a sentence of up to 15 years if he is convicted, as reported by ClickOnDetroit.
According to the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office, Bradford allegedly exploited the vulnerability of a 15-year-old girl, coercing her into sex in exchange for vape products. This incident reportedly occurred in the girl's Bloomfield Township home and Bradford's vehicle. As "every parent’s worst nightmare," Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald emphasized, "This adult defendant appears to have preyed upon the vulnerabilities of a teenager to coerce sex from a victim who wasn't old enough and in a position to consent," according to a statement detailed by CBS News Detroit.
Beyond this case, Bradford was also accused last month of similar misconduct in connection with minors in Berkley, where he was charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct for alleged sexual contact involving minors, as well as the provision of alcohol and drugs. Furthermore, additional allegations surfaced in Grosse Pointe Park, resulting in two counts of the same charge linked to an alleged assault on another 15-year-old girl in his vehicle, as detailed by FOX 2 Detroit. These charges come as Bradford is already known for using Snapchat to distribute vapes, marijuana, and alcohol to high school students.
