Police: Babysitter paid with marijuana, two arrested

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Two Scottsville residents have been jailed on suspicion of human trafficking after police investigated allegations that a juvenile they used to watch their children was paid in marijuana.

According to the Scottsville Police Department, the investigation started when police received a call on Aug. 18 from the Department of Community-Based Services to assist in an investigation at a residence on North Court Street.

According to an arrest citation, officials learned that a 16-year-old had been hired to supervise three children while their parents were at work.

Police said that the juvenile lived with Trever Johnson, 34, and Amber Caldwell, 30, of Scottsville.

According to SPD, the juvenile was given payment by Johnson and Caldwell in the form of marijuana for watching the children.

Caldwell denied the allegation, while Johnson turned himself in to police.

They were both charged with second-degree unlawful transaction with a minor and their cases are pending in Allen District Court.

Further investigation by the Scottsville Police Department resulted in Caldwell and Johnson both being charged on Oct. 2 with human trafficking (forced labor, victim younger than 18).

Caldwell and Johnson were both booked into Allen County Detention Center, where they are being held under $50,000 cash bonds.

The couple are due Wednesday in Allen District Court to be arraigned on the human trafficking count.

According to arrest citations, the couple’s children were removed from the home, and the juvenile who is said to have supervised the children was taken by a relative to Tennessee.