Adults Charged with Forcing a Teenager into Prostitution

Four adults are being held on charges of forcing a 15-year-old into prostitution, according to a report from the Bradenton Police Department. 

Anissa Lawson, 38, was charged with 27 felonies, including multiple counts of procuring a person under the age of 18 for prostitution,  lewd and lascivious battery, lewd and lascivious conduct, child abuse and possession of cocaine.

Donald Earl James, 44, was arrested on charges of procuring a person under the age of 18 for prostitution,  lewd and lascivious battery, lewd and lascivious conduct, child abuse and possession of cocaine.

Quental Laniar Harris, 28, was arrested on one charges of lewd and lascivious battery. Anthony Alfred Gentile, 41, was arrested on charges of lewd and lascivious battery.

The arrests were made after Bradenton police received a complaint Saturday evening about a 15-year-old being coerced into having sex with multiple adults, according to a police report. Detectives investigated the complaint and report that Lawson and James, who live at the Sunshine Motel, 1801 Tamiami Trail, coerced the teenager into prostitution.

Detective Kevin Bunch reported that all four adults charged had sex with the teenaged victim on multiple occasions. According to the report Detective Bunch got confessions from Lawson, James, and Gentile.

The investigation is continuing and further charges are pending, according to Warren Merriman, a captain with the Bradenton Police Department.

Detectives request that anyone with information in this case call the Bradenton Police Department at 941-932-9300, Detective Kevin Bunch at 941-932-9380 or to remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000, call Crime Stoppers  at 1-866-634-8477 or send an anonymous E-Tip thru the web at www.manateecrimestoppers.com