Last updated 6:19 p.m. PT
Oregon man charged with pimping 15-year-old girl
By LEVI PULKKINEN
SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF
An accused pimp is behind bars following allegations that he brought a 15-year-old runaway to Kent to work as a prostitute.
Charged with pimping a child, Oregon resident Zackery M. Driver was arrested after Kent police spotted the girl walking on Pacific Highway South on March 2.
According to charging documents, officers contacted the girl in an area of high prostitution wearing a short skirt and heels. She was later arrested at a nearby hotel.
Speaking with investigators, the girl initially denied that Driver was her pimp before admitting that he'd been profiting from her prostitution, a Kent detective said in court documents.
"It was evident she was emotionally attached to Driver," the detective told the court, describing the tearful girl. "(She) stated that she didn't understand how Driver had 'gotten in her head.'"
The girl told officers she'd met Driver in Portland after running away from home. She'd begun prostituting for his benefit in January, allowing him to post advertisements of her online and walking the streets of Portland. She estimated she'd given Driver at least $10,000 made from prostitution.
With that money, Driver bought 20-inch rims for his Cadillac, and installed a DVD player in the vehicle, the girl told police. He also bought expensive jewelry for himself, giving the girl only enough money for the basic necessities.
The girl said Driver refused to take her to the hospital when, on Valentine's Day, she developed a life-threatening infection.
"Instead he went on a date with another girl," the Kent detective told the court. "(She) was dropped off at the hospital and spent the day alone in her hospital bed.
"She cried when she told the story."
Driver and the girl arrived in Seattle on March 1, having taken a bus from Portland. The girl was arrested the following day.
On Friday, Driver was booked into the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center, where he remains. He has been charged with commercial sexual abuse of a minor, a felony.
Levi Pulkkinen can be reached at 206-448-8348 or levipulkkinen@seattlepi.com.
Charge: Runaway pimped for jewelry, rims for Cadillac
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