Ocala husband, wife arrested for child human trafficking
Credit: Marion County Sheriff's Office
A Florida man, along with his wife have been arrested on several charges after inappropriate texts with two juveniles were discovered by Marion County detectives.
Dwight Tawan Edwards, 47, was arrested in Stockbridge, Georgia, on a Marion County warrant for six counts of human trafficking and six counts of lewd or lascivious battery on Friday, deputies said. His wife, Jessica Edwards also faces charges.
On Nov. 22, a detective began investigating Dwight after inappropriate texts between him and two juveniles between the ages of 12 and 16 were discovered, deputies said. Dwight reportedly coerced the two juveniles to trade sexual favors for cash and "items of monetary value" for more than a year.
When officers brought in Jessica for questioning, they said she declined to disclose the whereabouts of her husband. Detectives said they found out during Thanksgiving, Jessica had "forced the juvenile victims to have contact with Dwight alone."
She was arrested on two counts of child neglect.
Marion County Deputies received a search warrant for Dwight, who was reportedly staying in Stockbridge, Georgia.
The US Marshal’s Southeastern Regional Fugitive Task Force, with the assistance of the Henry County Police Department, took Dwight into custody.
Jessica is currently being held at the Henry County Jail on a $100,000 bond and Dwight is being held at the Henry County Jail and awaiting extradition to the Marion County Jail.