Pearland man accused of pimping underage teens in alleged prostitution ring

PEARLAND, Texas (KTRK) -- A young man from Pearland is accused of forcing six high school students from Alvin ISD into prostitution.

Dihlon Lee Davis appeared in court on sex trafficking charges Tuesday.

According to court documents, a student showed an Alvin ISD officer a text message asking if the student wanted to be a prostitute.

The message led investigators to Davis and his girlfriend, who was allegedly recruiting prostitutes.

Investigators say Davis pimped the victims at a motel and took half the money.

Davis reportedly told officers that the teens had the idea to prostitute themselves, and all he did was rent the motel rooms and drive the girls. He said they gave him money for gas and drugs.

"I can't even imagine him getting into the mindset of kids to do that. It's sick," said Rosharon parent Phillip Clark.

On cell phones, authorities reportedly found photos of the underage victims in their underwear, and a note that read in part, "Do you have a sweet tooth? Well baby I'm your treat I'm sweet, warm, hot, and ready. I'm only one call away, I love to please."

"I got goosebumps right now because that's terrifying. I couldn't imagine what I would do...I have two girls in the car right now," Clark said.

He said he's thinking ahead about his daughters.

"That's the first thing that comes to mind is how to educate my girls and make them aware their own friends to look out for them," Clark added.

Davis faces life in prison.

Alvin ISD issued the following statement:

"Last April, Alvin ISD administrators and police officers were investigating an altercation that occurred between multiple students at Manvel High School. The conflict started after an accusation was made claiming that one of the students was involved in illicit activity, unrelated to the campus. Alvin ISD Police Officers broadened the scope of their investigation to determine the validity of this accusation.

"It was quickly identified that another law enforcement agency, the Texas Department of Public Safety, was actively investigating a 20-year-old adult male who happened to be an acquaintance of one of the students involved in the altercation. The basis of the broader DPS investigation was not focused on activity occurring at the campus and therefore the ongoing investigation was continued by the outside law enforcement agency.

"Alvin ISD assigned appropriate discipline to the students who were involved in the altercation. At the point when the incomplete investigation shifted away from the Alvin ISD Police Department, there was no conclusive evidence indicating that our students had been involved in illicit activity."

Davis is charged with sex trafficking of minors, by force, fraud or coercion.

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