Police: Reports of Juvenile Prostitution On Rise In OKC

Oklahoma City police say they are receiving more and more reports about juvenile prostitutes working the South Robinson Avenue area of Oklahoma City.

News 9 has obtained video showing a 15-year-old girl working the streets. The video surfaced just as police arrested 16 people, including a juvenile, during a 2-day prostitution sting in early June.

3/12/2012 Related Story: OKC Video Vigilante Helps Take Teen Prostitute Off The Streets

Sources close to the juvenile in the video say she is still walking the streets and needs help. Videographer Brian Bates of JohnTV.com has been documenting the world of prostitution in Oklahoma City for more than 15 years.

"In the last two months, I've probably seen more juvenile prostitutes than I've seen in the last two years," Bates said. "I've never seen the police actually acknowledge that this is a problem out here and it is."

Bates says police and an anti-human trafficking organization have confirmed to him that the girl in the video he shot is 15 years old. Bates says, like pimps, two women seen in the video are the girl's handlers. The 15-year-old appears to be unsure of herself, seemingly scared and nervous

"She has a sad story," Bates said. "She had a troubled past. She wanted to grow up too fast. She started running around with the wrong people."

Bates says the girl has worked with three notorious pimps in Oklahoma and Kansas. He also says her family is desperate for help.

"There's no reason to believe that this girl is not out there continuing to be prostituted," Bates said.

Bates says most adult prostitutes started as juveniles who simply fell through the cracks. Bates says his goal is to bring awareness to the problem and get the girls help.

Oklahoma City police say they will continue undercover operations in the area to combat the crime.