Jury Finds Man Guilty of Human Trafficking and Promoting Prostitution of two Minors, Sexual Assault, Endangering the Welfare of a Child and Distribution of Heroin
Published on June 01, 2019
Morris County Prosecutor Fredric Knapp and Acting Chief of Investigations Chris Kimker announce that on June 12, 2019, a Morris County jury found Aldophus Mims, age 42, of Charlotte, North Carolina, guilty of four counts of 1st degree Human Trafficking, three counts 1st degree Promoting Prostitution, two counts 2nd degree Sexual Assault, one count of 3rd degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and two counts 3rd degree Distribution of Heroin. This was the first Human Trafficking of a Minor trial in Morris County history.
The Honorable Donald G. Collester, J.S.C., retired and acting on recall, presided over the trial, and will sentence Mims at a later date to be determined.
Mims was subsequently remanded to the Morris County Correctional Facility pending sentencing. At sentencing, he faces a minimum of 20 years New Jersey State Prison with no possibility of parole to potential consecutive Life Sentences. He will also be subject to registration pursuant to Megan's Law and Parole Supervision for Life.
The crimes themselves occurred over a one week span in June of 2015, when Mr. Mims provided heroin to two juvenile females, then aged 15 and 17, and enticed them to engage in acts of prostitution at a Rockaway Township hotel. Mr. Mims would then collect the money received after the sexual acts were completed. The 15-year old victim also disclosed that Mr. Mims engaged in sexual acts with her. Mims then transported the victims to a different hotel in Parsippany to have them continue to engage in acts of prostitution.
At trial, the defendant alleged that he had in fact provided drugs, engaged in sexual acts and encouraged the prostitution of two females, but claimed that the women he was talking about were different then the two juvenile victims.
Prosecutor Knapp would like to thank the Rockaway Borough Police Department, the Rockaway Township Police Department, the Town of Boonton Police Department, the Hackettstown Police Department, the Morris County Sheriff's Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, and the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit for their involvement in this investigation and prosecution. Prosecutor Knapp would specifically like to thank and recognize the prosecution team of Assistant Prosecutor Laura Magnone, Assistant Prosecutor Elizabeth Beaman and Sergeant Marshall Wang of the Morris County Prosecutor's Office for their efforts in this case.
Inquiries concerning this press release should be directed to Public Information Officer Peter DiGennaro at pressinquiry@co.morris.nj.us or 973-829-8159.