Aug. 18--Bail was denied Tuesday afternoon for a man accused of forcing a 17-year-old girl into prostitution to help him pay for crack cocaine and gas, prosecutors said.
Anthony Love, 33, was charged with involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, trafficking persons and promoting juvenile prostitution after police arrested him for driving with a suspended license, and learned he had been exploiting his teenage passenger, according to a news release from the Cook County state's attorney's office.
According to prosecutors, Love met the girl near her school in May, and pursued her with promises of making the teen his girlfriend. During their relationship, Love told her to skip school and kept her away from her foster home for long periods of time. He also would ask the girl for money to pay for gas and crack, prosecutors said.
In June, Love told the girl to solicit young girls to prostitute for him. And when she failed, he persuaded her to prostitute herself by promising to reward her, but he never did, said prosecutors.
Later that month, Love drove the girl to an area known for prostitution on the the city's Southeast Side. The girl repeatedly told him she did not want to prostitute herself, but he made her stand on a street corner and wait for customers, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said Love forced the girl to prostitute herself for months in a hotel room. Afterward, she would hand over all the money she made. When the girl tried to quit, she was choked and threatened, prosecutors said.
Recently over the course of two days, Love forced the girl to perform sexual acts with about 17 men. It ended when Love was arrested for driving on a suspended license and police learned he had been exploiting the girl, who was with him at the time of his arrest, prosecutors said.
Love appeared Tuesday afternoon at a bail hearing, where Cook County Judge Adam Bourgeois denied bail.
Love's next court date was scheduled for Sept. 8.
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