Man, 31, faces human trafficking charges
A man faces human trafficking charges in Madison Heights after police say he forced a runaway girl into prostitution before he was sent to prison on an unrelated conviction.
Suspect Roy L Gerard, 31, appeared in Madison Heights 43rd District Court for a brief video conference hearing Wednesday. He is serving time at a prison in Marquette for auto theft in late 2018.
He was arraigned in Madison Heights court April 7 on charges of human trafficking/forced labor of a minor, and accepting earnings from prostitution. Gerard’s bond is set at $50,000 cash.
Madison Heights police Lt. Michael Siladke said the charges follow an investigation where police interviewed a girl, 16, who was a runaway and lives in another city.
The charges cover a period in May 2018.
“She ran away from home
and was staying with the suspect in various hotel rooms in Madison Heights,” Siladke said.
Gerard had a relationship with the girl for a short while, but then forced the girl to engage in prostitution. The suspect arranged the transactions and collected money when men had sex with the girl, police said, adding Gerard also put information about the girl’s availability on various websites.
“He would arrange the date, time and place,” Siladke said. “He was making her do this by threat of force and she was not allowed to leave after he started a relationship with her.”
Gerard’s criminal history dates back to 2007, according to Michigan Department of Corrections records. He has been convicted of second-degree criminal sexual assault, and has three separate convictions for failing to register as a sex offender.
Defense attorney Jeffery Quas was granted a delay at Wednesday’s hearing so that he could have time to request and review information from prosecutors.
The next hearing is set for 9 a.m. May 12.