Published: September 13, 2008 06:36 pm      

Illegals allegedly attempt to buy a juvenile

PICAYUNE — A report of two males attempting to purchase a 16 year-old girl from a group of teenagers lead to their arrest.

The incident took place on Aug. 17 at about 10:20 p.m. where Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department got a call that two males, identified as Jose Juan Trejo-Hernandez and Estaban Torres Hidalgo, were attempting to purchase a female juvenile.

Chief Deputy Shane Tucker said the department got a call that night from a concerned parent that a group of teenagers walking in the Nicholson area were approached by two males. The two males pulled up and offered the teenagers $6,000 for a 16 year-old female in the group. When the group refused and began walking away the driver of the vehicle, Trejo-Hernandez, displayed a handgun to the group without pointing at a specific person, Tucker said.

The group of teenagers kept walking and the suspects drove away. Deputies later stopped the vehicle and found that Trejo-Hernandez did not have a driver’s license. He was taken into custody and the vehicle was searched. In that search deputies found two handguns, one of which was stolen from Slidell, La., Tucker said. Further investigation established that both Trejo-Hernandez and Hidalgo are illegal residents in the United States. Both suspects were taken to the county jail.

Tucker said no money was found in the vehicle or on the two suspects.

Both Trejo-Hernandez and Hidalgo were charged with exploitation of a minor, possession of a stolen firearm, which are both felonies. Trejo-Hernandez was additionally charged with driving without a driver’s license and improper equipment, Tucker said.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement is forming a felony case against the two suspects. Neither one will be able to bond out since ICE has holds on the two suspects, Tucker said. It is illegal for an illegal resident to possess a fire arm, Tucker said.