Dorchester man charged for prostituting 3 underage girls

By: Samantha Lavien
Slavien@abc6.com
Twitter: @samanthalavien

Three missing Massachusetts teens are safe after being held captive to be sold for sex.

This is the second sex trafficking case in the capital city this week. Earlier this week two women were rescued from a very similar situation.

In this case, a 14 year old girl made a brave escape and got help.

The teens were being held on the third floor of a home on Cumerford Street in Providence.

The teens were just 14 and 15 years old. Police say they were somehow enticed to the home by 21-year-old Dorchester resident Derek Miranda.

“It’s just unbelievable I live here minding my own business and it’s just not something that’s expected around here,” said neighbor Eric Morel

The girls were discovered Thursday night after police say one was able to escape from the third floor of the building.

“One of the girls was able to get a text message out. Some sort of message to a friend who notified her father,” said Major David Lapatin with the Providence Police Dept.

Miranda was arrested on scene charged with kidnapping and sex trafficking.

“I live across the street so it is very scary,” said one neighbor who didn’t want us to publish her full name.

Miranda does not live at the Providence address. He told police he was just visiting a relative.

“We’re still checking that out,” said Lapatin.

Police say the teens were rescued just in the nick of time, it’s believed none of them had been prostituted in the few days they were held captive.

“Thank god we were able to stop this as early as we did,” said Lapatin.

Two of the girls were released to their fathers the other is in DCYF custody.

We’re told a 21-year-old woman was also inside the home. It’s not clear what her connection is and at this point she’s not facing any charges.

Miranda is set to be arraigned on Monday.

© WLNE-TV 2014