A man from Mississippi, accused of trafficking two teenage girls in Pensacola, is set to go on trial in October following a hearing that took place on Monday.
A 53-year-old man from Biloxi, Mississippi, named Mark Wells was charged by the Office of the State Attorney in March. The charges against him include two counts of forced labor by human trafficking and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. It is alleged that he took a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old from their home and brought them to Pensacola.
Wells has been assigned a jury selection date of Oct. 28, during which the attorneys and judge will determine the trial date for the final week of October.
If found guilty, he could potentially face a maximum sentence of 60 years in state prison.
Based on court records, it was reported that one of the teenagers reached out to law enforcement from the Hampton Inn and Suites on Plantation Road, seeking assistance. Upon the arrival of deputies, she reported that Wells had taken her and her sister from their residence in Gulfport, Mississippi.
According to the girls, Wells provided them with $100 before bringing them to the Pensacola hotel. According to reports, Wells offered the girls a payment of $50 to work at his company.
“She advised she was unsure what they would be doing but was assured by Wells that he would teach them the job later,” court records say.
After one of the girls received a call from the Gulfport Police Department, Wells decided to leave the hotel, expressing his reluctance to interact with law enforcement.
Based on court records, the mother of the two teens informed law enforcement that she did not authorize Wells to take the teens out of the state.
In addition, she mentioned that Wells had been her landlord in the past, which is how he was acquainted with the girls.
After Wells departed from the hotel room, investigators from the Department of Children and Families were able to gain custody of both individuals.
Source: PNJ