People in a Houston courtroom were so horrified at what they were hearing that there were audible and loud gasps as well as hands reaching up to cover mouths.
In one of the most disturbing cases ever brought before state prosecutors in Houston, Texas, a man was arrested and charged with prostituting his 4 year old daughter. Andrew Turley, 28, was arrested by undercover Houston police detectives at a meeting place that has not yet been revealed by police or prosecutors.
Turley decided he was going to make some money by offering men the opportunity to “Play With Daddy’s Little Girl.” That was exactly how the offer was worded in the Casual Encounters section on Craigslist where Turley advertised his daughter, according to The Washington Post.
People who were present in the audience of the courtroom during his arraignment were so shocked by the details of the case that many could be heard gasping out loud and holding hands to their mouths. After posting the ad on Craigslist for the services of his 4 year old daughter, Turley went on to exchange over sixty emails over the course of ten days with someone he thought a potential customer. Turley was offering time with his daughter for $1,000. His potential customer, however, turned out to be an undercover cop from the Houston Police Department.
The undercover cop agreed to meet Turley at an undisclosed location so as to engage with his 4 year old daughter. They met up at an unidentified apartment complex in Houston. During the email exchange, the undercover cop had asked Turley how old the girl was. Turley had replied that she was younger than ten years old.
When the cop arrived at the apartment complex and entered the bedroom, he discovered the little 4 year old girl lying on the bed. The undercover officer realized that she was much younger than ten years old. The little girl was naked under a blanket and the officer said that she looked drugged and extremely groggy. Turns out that Turley, her father, had given her sleeping pills.
Turley was arrested and charged with trafficking a child and compelling the prostitution of a minor. The judge set his bail at $1 million and Turley told the court that he would hire his own lawyer.
