Two Arrested for Prostitution in Des Moines

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By Max Walker

Story Created: Jul 17, 2012 at 1:42 PM CDT

Story Updated: Jul 17, 2012 at 5:12 PM CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa - Two people have been charged with pimping for a 16-year-old runaway from Oregon and four other prostitutes in Des Moines.

Des Moines police say the pair had placed Internet ads on backpage.com. An undercover officer arranged to meet a woman at a Des Moines hotel and arrested her after making a deal for sex. The prostitute turned out to be a 16-year-old runaway from Portland, Ore.

The two other suspects are charged with pimping and using a juvenile to commit indictable offenses. They were identified as 24-year-old Erika Hart, of Honolulu, and 30-year-old Atlantis Carter, of Waukegan, Ill.

Hart and Carter have bonded out of Polk County Jail. Home phone listings for them could not be found. Online court records don't list the names of their attorneys.