Jasper County Inmate Charged with Sexually Exploiting and Trafficking a Minor, Escaping Jail

Jasper County Inmate Charged With Sexually Exploiting and Trafficking a Minor, and Escaping Jail in Beaufort County

An inmate of Jasper County, South Carolina, has been cornered with heavy accusations comprising of sexual exploitation and human trafficking of a minor, followed by a later escape while under custody at the Jasper County Detention Center. The charges surfaced to public knowledge on Monday, July 15th, 2024, when state police shared the disheartening news.

Details of the Convicted and His Crimes

Jaquan Duvall Barnes, aged 29, is the defendant at the heart of these egregious charges. Listed on his charge sheet are shocking cases of human rights violations including: human trafficking of a minor, two counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, two counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and an unlawful escape from custody. Online jail records provide validity to these charges.

Delving into details as seen in the affidavit, evidence shows that from February 13th through March 5th, 2024, Barnes knowingly catered to transport and house a minor who had been reported as missing, plying her with drugs and abetting her exposure to sexual trafficking. Barnes is also being reported to have subjected this minor to a human sex trafficking scheme he was involved in during the same period.

Barnes Blatant Disregard of the Law

Additional information contained in the affidavit reveals another saddening act of Barnes distributing an image that presents a minor in a sexually explicit act or in a state of nudity. Sometime, between June 9th and June 10th, 2024, Barnes pulled off an unlawful escape. At the time, he was awaiting trial and further sentencing for other offenses at the Jasper County Detention Center. This escape occurred just ahead of his transfer to Beaufort County Detention Center where he was to serve time for other offenses.

Barnes has since been booked into the Beaufort County Detention Center as state and local law enforcement continue to fight against human trafficking, sex offenses, and the problem of jail escapes. Extreme vigilance is being implemented to prevent similar incidences from occurring, while resolute action is being meted against violators. The case against Barnes is an ongoing one and will no doubt collect huge interest as it unfolds.