MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and Mount Olive Police Chief Stephen Beecher announce the arrest of a Mount Olive man for Human Trafficking.
Michael Keenan, 23, Mount Olive, was arrested Thursday, November 24 and subsequently charged with one count of Human Trafficking, in violation of N.J.S 2C:13-8(a)3, a crime of the first degree, one count of Promoting Prostitution, in violation of N.J.S 2C:34-1b(3), a crime of the first degree, and one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, in violation of N.J.S. 2C:24-4(a)1, a crime of the third degree. Defendant was remanded to the Morris County Correctional Facility.
The alleged victim in this matter is a 17 year old female who reported that she was led to engage in prostitution by Keenan between November 11 and November 21. The victim alleged that Defendant would drive her to hotels in Mount Olive to engage in such prostitution. After the sexual acts were completed, Keenan would allegedly collect a portion of the proceeds for himself.
Bail was set for Keenan by the Honorable Brian J. Levine, J.M.C. at $150,000. Judge Levine also issued a Nicole’s Law Restraining Order against Keenan.
Prosecutor Knapp would like to thank the Mount Olive Police Department, specifically Detective Hunter Guiles, as well as members of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Detective/Supervisor Marshall Wang of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit of the at (973) 285-6200.
Editors Note: A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, this Defendant is presumed innocent unless he is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
