A South Georgia man is accused of impersonating a law enforcement officer as part of a human trafficking and sexual abuse scheme, according to multiple media reports.
Marsella Miles, 22, of Thomasville, faces charges of aggravated assault, sodomy, first-degree child cruelty, human trafficking and impersonating an officer, Thomasville police told Albany-based news station WALB on Tuesday.
A 17-year-old Albany male was walking in Thomasville several weeks ago when Miles offered him a ride, Lt. Toby Knifer told the Thomasville Times-Enterprise. The teenager was not a runaway, and his family knew he was in Thomasville.
Miles allegedly used his authority over the teen — in addition to pretending to be a police officer — to intimidate him into performing sexual favors. Miles had a fake badge, clothing that resembled an officer’s uniform and had previously been charged with impersonating a police officer in an unrelated incident, WALB reported.
Miles acted as though he had authority over the teen and was a father-type figure during the intimidation, Knifer told the Times-Enterprise.
Last Friday, Miles called 911 to report that the teen had runaway from his home, the newspaper reported. However, when officers found him on a nearby street, the teen told officers he did not want to return to Miles’ home, citing the alleged sexual abuse.
The teen has since been returned to his family in Albany, the Times-Enterprise reported.
In addition to the other incidents, Miles threatened to prosecute the victim’s family members if the teen did not consent to his sexual demands, Knifer said.
AJC.com has reached out to Thomasville police for more information on this incident and the Thomas County Sheriff’s Office to learn more about Miles’ custody.
In other news:
About the Author
