By Michael Morton
Jackson Metellus, 24, of 246-08 139th Ave. in Rosedale, received his sentence in State Supreme Court in Kew Gardens, DA Richard Brown said. Metellus earlier had pleaded guilty to promoting prostitution May 24 after being convicted of robbery in the same court and sentenced to 15 years in prison last fall, the DA said. The two prison terms will run consecutively.”The case clearly shows that prostitution is not a victimless crime, but rather a despicable offense against society committed by predators that enslave young women a day at a time,” Brown said.In addition to Metellus, two Jamaica pimps who had earlier controlled the 15-year-old were sentenced to prison, the DA said, and the Rosedale man's father, who raped the girl, was sent to jail. Police are still looking for a group of five people, one of whom sold the girl to Metellus for $500.The status of the girl, who ran away from her home in Putnam County in January 2004, could not be determined. Somehow she ended up in Queens under the control of Michael “Mello” Streat, 27, and Christine Waltzer, 24, both of 108-47 164th St. in Jamaica, DA Brown said. The pair soon flew with her to Miami Beach, Fla., using phony ID to get her on the plane. After a short stint working as a prostitute, she was arrested, but then police released her into Streat's custody. The trio went back to Elmhurst, where the 15-year-old was once again made to work the streets.The 15-year-old, however, accepted a ride on Queens Boulevard on Jan. 20, 2004, from a group of four men and a woman, none of whom have been identified or found by police. One of the men took her four days later to Metellus' apartment, where the Rosedale pimp turned over $500 and told her he now owned her, according to a criminal complaint. Metellus told the girl she would have to work off the money, then took off her clothes and locked her in a bedroom.For the next month, he or one of his acquaintances watched over her, rarely letting her out of the bedroom and not permitting her to wear clothes. Metellus made her perform oral sex on him and have sexual intercourse, the complaint said. He also invited his father and a second, unidentified male relative over to do likewise. If the girl refused, Metellus would not let her eat or drink.During the imprisonment, Metellus brought over other men to have sex with the girl, the complaint said. He also took her to several motels in Queens to meet customers, it said. Finally, on Feb. 29, the girl found some clothes, sneaked out of Metellus' residence while he was having sex with someone else, returned home and contacted the police.After an investigation, Metellus' father, Jacques Metellus, pleaded guilty to rape in May and was sentenced to 30 days in jail and 10 years' probation. Streat and Waltzer pleaded guilty to promoting prostitution in October and were sentenced to up to nine years in prison. Metellus' plea came seven months later.Reach reporter Michael Morton by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 154.
