PHOENIX — Prosecutors have dropped the charges against one of two brothers accused of sex trafficking two teenage girls.
In court documents filed last month, a Maricopa County Superior Court judge dismissed the case against Jamal Akeem Pennington after receiving a request to dismiss the case from the county attorney.
Prosecutors continue to move forward against his brother, Kamil, with trial set for June 12. The motion to dismiss the charges against Jamal Pennington did not give a reason as to why, though it was done in such a way that prosecutors could re-file if they so choose.
Phoenix police arrested the brothers on April 16, 2018, after receiving reports that they allegedly forced two teenage girls to sell drugs and sex.
Police say the girls knew each other from residing in the same group home.
After five days, the girls made their way to a convenience store where they asked the clerk to contact the police.
They both told similar stories to police, accusing Jamal King Pennington and his brother Kamil of assaulting them and forcing them to sell drugs and sex from motel rooms near 24th and Van Buren streets. They said they were advertised on Backpage.com and would be beaten if they failed to earn at least $250 per day.
Both were initially arrested for aggravated assault and child sex trafficking.
