On Friday, June 9, 2017, the Ottumwa Police Department conducted a prostitution investigation after discovering some suspicious advertisements posted on the internet. The ads appeared to be soliciting sex acts in exchange for money.

This investigation resulted in two females being arrested after they drove to Ottumwa together and met with an undercover police officer.

Mynisha Danyel-Shawna Pearson, age 19, and Alivia Skye Barker, age 18, both of Burlington IA, were charged with Prostitution, an Aggravated Misdemeanor. Both females later posted bond from the Wapello County Jail.

The Southeast Iowa Inter-Agency Drug Task Force assisted with the investigation.

Please note the following pursuant to recent Supreme Court rulings: “A criminal charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.”