A Texas man has been arrested in Florida for 30 counts of Human Sexual Trafficking and a victim who has been abused for years is free from the predator.
On July 30, Ocala Police responded to the Equus Inn, located at 3434 SW College Rd., about an assault that involved 41-year-old Alvin Harris, and a female victim.
We the first officer arrived, he saw Harris yelling at and chasing the victim through the parking lot towards State Road 200.
The police officer intervened and saw the victim to be in fear and Harris was enraged, saying the victim had his car keys. A witness heard the victim yelling for help and stated that Harris was hitting her.
During the investigation, the victim told police that she has been “trapped” for many years and can’t leave and that Harris has made threats to kill her in the past. They both reside in Texas but have been traveling to various states, including Florida.
The victim made multiple statements to police that were indicative of human trafficking, including not allowing her to own items, not allowing her to eat, and not allowing her to have money.
Detective Ocasio with Ocala Police Department responded to the scene and began her investigation. The victim was visibly nervous and she expressed extreme discomfort about the current situation, according to police.
The victim stated she met Harris approximately six to seven years ago in Texas and said that he acted as if he wanted to help her. Then, Harris began to isolate her from her family by threatening violence against her and them.
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Investigators say that Harris began confiscating her government-issued identification, including her social security card, and began financially and sexually exploiting her.
The victim stated she and Harris moved around a lot, isolating her further from her family and he would give her drug-laced beverages, forcing her to have sexual intercourse with him.
When he became agitated and angry with her, Harris would go into a rage and strangle her to the point of passing out. The victim stated that one of the encounters of sexual and physical abuse occurred while they were in the City of Ocala at the Equus Hotel.
The woman told police that Harris would mandate a dollar amount of $1000 a day when he required her to go out and prostitute herself on “calls” of which she did at least 30 while in Ocala. The victim stated she would try to make at least $600-700 so that Harris would not become “angry and physically abuse her”.
According to police, Harris would not allow her to keep any money; he would only allow her to have a CashApp which she was forbidden to withdraw from. Harris would continually open debit/credit card accounts in her name which he forbade her to use. The victim was not even allowed to buy food, leaving her nourishment to the mercy of his daily mood or decision.
After Harris was arrested, the victim had to be taken to the hospital to be treated for severe dehydration and other medical issues.
The victim stated at times after Harris gave her laced drinks, he would force her to perform sexual acts on camera. The victim added that Harris created multiple escort sites for her using various apps and emails. Due to the victim being under constant threat of physical force and having endured physical abuse in the past she was unable to resist Harris’s sexual advances.
“Our Victim Advocates arrived on the scene, provided her with necessary services, and worked with the victim to get her back home to Texas. Our Victim Advocate Unit was able to provide her with a temporary phone, emergency shelter, transportation, food, medical services, counseling services, and travel arrangements for her and her dog,” said Ocala Police.
The victim’s parents have tried to get her home since 2019.
Harris was arrested for 30 counts of Human Sexual Trafficking in violation of FSS 787.06.3f(2) as well as Sexual Battery in violation of FSS 794.011.4(b).
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