Comstock, Wolf, Local Leaders to Address Human Trafficking

State Del. Barbara Comstock, R-McLean, will host a town hall meeting on May 3 with U.S. Rep Frank Wolf and a panel of local experts, federal and state officials.

The event aims to educate the community about human sex trafficking in Virginia, how the commonwealth is cracking down on this crime and how Virginians can increase awareness of the threat posed in the area.

The Human Trafficking Forum will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the McLean Community Center, Community Hall, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean. Hosts also include Del. Tim Hugo, R-Fairfax, and the Richmond Justice Initiative.

Panelists are Comstock, Courtney Gaskins with Youth For Tomorrow, Hugo, Sara Pomeroy with the Richmond Justice Initiative, Wolf, Fairfax County police detective Bill Woolf, Staca Shehan with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and Holly Alfano with NATSO.

This legislative session, Comstock was a chief co-patron of HB 1606, which was introduced by Hugo. This legislation makes soliciting a minor younger than 16 years of age a Class 5 felony, and any person who solicits prostitution from a minor 16 years of age or older is guilty of a Class 6 felony, according to Comstock’s office.

Comstock was also a chief co-patron of HB 1870, which allows a multi-jurisdiction grand jury to investigate human sex trafficking cases where the suspect received money for procuring another individual to engage in prostitution.