Three people are accused of attempted trafficking of a minor after police discovered a 14-year-old girl in a San Antonio hotel room with drugs and an AR-15 rifle, the San Antonio Express-News reported.
San Antonio police arrested Eric Allen McConal, 35, and Vanessa Nicole Arriaga, 30, Thursday morning on felony charges, the newspaper reported. A third person, Erek Randell Brown, 38, is being sought by police.
McConal was charged with attempted trafficking of a minor under 18 years old and a felon in possession of a weapon, KSAT reported. Arriaga was charged with trafficking a person under 18 years old and harboring a runaway, the television station reported. Her bail has been set at $42,000.
Police opened an investigation on Oct. 1, 2018, when bike patrol officers were called to a downtown San Antonio hotel by the business' staff, the Express-News reported. Staff members earlier had gone to the room and allegedly found Arriaga in the room with the teen, who was later determined to be a runaway from Odessa, Texas, the newspaper reported. Staff members said they also found the weapon, along with needs and drug paraphernalia.
Police determined the rifle had not been stolen and released Arriaga after arresting her on a misdemeanor charge, KSAT reported.
The teen, who was taken in for questioning, later admitted that Arriaga and Brown had taken her to San Antonio, where they met up with McConal, the television station reported.
According to an arrest affidavit, when the girl was asked if McConal and Brown were pimps, she responded, "I ain't no prostitute" (and) they are "too dumb to be pimps."
McConal told police Brown was his friend and a pimp who had brought the girl and Arriaga so they could "party," KSAT reported, citing the arrest affidavit.
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