Charges dropped in case of alleged teen prostitution

EVERETT — Snohomish County prosecutors have dropped charges against an Everett man they suspected of paying for online ads for underage girls working as prostitutes.

A Superior Court judge last week dismissed multiple sex charges against Jerry Mitchell, 28. Deputy prosecutor Matt Baldock filed the motion to drop the case, saying he wouldn’t be able to proceed because two witnesses weren’t available.

A Snohomish County sheriff’s detective began investigating the case after reviewing a runaway report for a 15-year-old. He learned that she and another girl, also 15, were being advertised on Backpage.com.

Confronted by detectives, the girls said Mitchell would take the calls and give them an address and room number at a motel, according to court papers. The teens reported that he would keep part of the money.

The girls didn’t report the incidents to police, which is common in these types of crimes, Baldock said.

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