15-year-old girls were being trafficked from Griffin home: Arrest warrant
Warrants reveal abuse, drug use in trafficking case
FOX 5 News is learning more about four people accused of committing horrific crimes against two 15-year-old girls in Griffin.
GRIFFIN, Ga. - New details have emerged in the investigation of horrific crimes committed against two 15-year-old girls in Griffin.
PREVIOUS REPORT: 3 arrested in Griffin for child exploitation, 1 person still on the run
FOX 5 has obtained the arrest warrants for the four adults who are accused of human trafficking and sex crimes against the girls.
Griffin Police say two 15-year-old girls were being held inside a vacant home without utilities along North 5th Street for more than a week. (FOX 5)
Griffin child exploitation arrests
What we know:
Tamarrius Lewis, 32, William White, 42, and Shelithia Blackmon, 38, were all arrested in this case.
The records show that the teens had run away from a state group home.
According to the warrants, the adults held the 15-year-old girls at a Griffin home on North 5th Street for eight days. The warrants stated that the home had no electricity or running water. A neighbor told FOX 5 that the home was vacant.
According to these warrants, the four adults are accused of sexually assaulting the teens and giving them marijuana, meth, crack, cocaine, and alcohol.
Griffin Police say two 15-year-old girls were being held inside a vacant home without utilities along North 5th Street for more than a week. (FOX 5)
Search for Tobias Lewis
What we don't know:
The Griffin Police Department, in a press release about the case, said the investigation is ongoing and there could be more charges.
They are also looking for Lewis’ brother, Tobias Lewis. There is a reward for information on his whereabouts. Police say he is facing similar charges as the other two men.
Tabias Lewis
15-year-old girls held captive
The backstory:
Police say that the situation began when they received a tip about a 15-year-old runaway being at the home on Jan. 29. They raided the home with SWAT and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). They learned that there were two 15-year-olds there, runaways from what the warrants described as a state group home.
The police say the girls are back in their homes and recovering.
Griffin Police say two 15-year-old girls were being held inside a vacant home without utilities along North 5th Street for more than a week. (FOX 5)
Human trafficking charges in Griffin case
What's next:
White and Lewis were charged with statutory rape and aggravated sodomy.
All three are facing charges of human trafficking, child cruelty and drug charges.
Tabias Lewis, Shelithia Blackmon, William White and Tamarrius Lewis
National Human Trafficking Hotline
What you can do:
They encouraged anyone who suspects human trafficking to call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
The Source: Initial details were provided by the Griffin Police Department. Arrest warrants for Tabias Lewis, Shelithia Blackmon, William White and Tamarrius Lewis were obtained and the details in those documents were used in this article. The mug shots of those arrested were provided by the Spalding County Sheriff's Office.