A Dayton woman barely out of her teens has been arrested for promoting prostitution involving two 16-year-old girls.

Detective Rocky Potter, who investigates sex crimes for the Rhea County Sheriff's Department, said he received information a couple of weeks ago that Mersadie Minton Pankey, 22, of Dayton, was allegedly transporting a 16-year-old girl to different locations in Rhea County where she was providing sex in exchange for money. Pankey then reportedly kept the majority of the money.

"According to our information, Mersadie would go to these locations and work up the deal while the two girls remained in the car," Potter said. "Then one girl would go in and collect the money and come back out before the second girl went in to perform the sex acts."

Pankey allegedly drove the girls to three locations, one in Dayton, one in Graysville and one on Dayton Mountain, in September. Each time the girl would have sex with up to seven men, Potter said.

Pankey reportedly met the two girls while living in the Dayton Housing Authority's Taylor Hills development.

The detective questioned Pankey and the two girls, and all three gave statements consistent with the evidence, Potter said.
"The girl who performed the sex acts said she did it because she felt threatened by Pankey. She said Pankey needed the money to make her car payment," Potter said.

Potter charged Pankey with three counts of promoting prostitution and six counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

No charges were filed against the girls, and the girl who engaged in the sexual activity is now receiving counseling, Potter said.

No charges have been filed against the men involved because it would be virtually impossible to prove the identity of the men or to prove that they were more than three years older than the girl, Potter said.

Deputy Kyle Akins arrested Pankey Tuesday morning. She is currently being held in the Rhea County Jail without bond pending her arraignment in Rhea County General Sessions Court on Friday.

John Carpenter can be reached at jcarpenter@xtn.net.
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