A 2 a.m. rape report from an 18-year-old at a Marietta hotel has spiraled into a wider investigation that police say uncovered the sexual exploitation of a 16-year-old girl and landed a local man in jail on multiple felony charges.
Just before 2 a.m. Wednesday, the 18-year-old called police to report she had been raped inside a hotel bathroom. That report sent officers to a hotel at 2164 Kingston Court, where investigators say they soon found evidence suggesting a 16-year-old had been sexually exploited over an extended period, according to The Georgia Sun.
Marietta police identified the suspect as 36-year-old Jaime Hernandez-Campos. He was booked on charges that include rape, aggravated sodomy and trafficking of persons for sexual servitude, The Georgia Sun reports.
Multi-agency response and custody
Marietta Police say the case quickly grew into a human trafficking investigation. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Human Exploitation and Trafficking unit, known as the HEAT unit, joined the probe. That same unit has run similar operations across the state, including coordinated efforts in Cobb County, per the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Hernandez-Campos was booked into the Cobb County Adult Detention Center in Marietta. The facility is operated by the sheriff, and inmate and visitation details are listed on the Cobb County Sheriff's Office website.
Police ask for tips
Marietta Police are asking anyone who might have information related to the case to contact Detective Darley at (770) 794-5380. The investigation is still active, and authorities warn that additional suspects or victims could be identified as the case moves forward, according to The Georgia Sun.
What the law says
Under Georgia law, trafficking an individual for sexual servitude is a felony offense spelled out in OCGA § 16-5-46. The crime carries heavy penalties, generally 10 to 20 years in prison, and 25 to 50 years or life if the victim is under 18, along with possible fines and forfeiture provisions. The statute also removes certain age-of-consent defenses in trafficking cases involving minors, which is part of why law enforcement treats these investigations as especially serious. The full statute text is available at Justia.
Police emphasize that the charges remain allegations at this stage, and Hernandez-Campos is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court. This story will be updated as Marietta Police or prosecutors release more information.
