Laurel Man Charged with Trafficking Minors for Sex

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — A Laurel man has been charged with human trafficking after police said he was found with a 13 and 15-year-old girl in a vehicle stashed with condoms, cell phones and cash.

Arthur Coleman, 46, of Larchdale Road, is charged with two counts of human trafficking, four counts of prostitution, sexual solicitation of a minor, sex abuse of a minor and other related offenses.

Authorities said they were led to Coleman after an undercover officer saw pictures of young girl featured on the site Backpage.com and inquired about possibly making money. When the officer pretended to be a fellow youth interested in the business, one of the teens replied that she and an older man would pick her up in Columbia in a public place.

At the meeting spot, officers were waiting when Coleman drove up with a 13 and 15-year-old girl, authorities said. Investigators allege he drove young girls to appointments at various locations in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., and took some of the money the girls were paid for these visits.

Coleman is being held without bond at the Howard County Detention Center. He is scheduled to appear in Howard County District Court on Aug. 19.

Both teens were provided with support services, according to police.

Booking photo of Arthur Coleman courtesy of the Howard County Police Department.