MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com)— The Shelby County Sheriff's Office says underage girls stripping is becoming a frightening trend. Deputies say many girls aren't admitting they're doing it, so that makes it harder to crack down on strip club owners who hire them. If they are hired, a strip club owner may be charged with aggravated sexual exploitation and solicitation of a minor.
Girls who want to strip have to be at least 18-years-old. MPD officers say they check bikini bars and strip clubs to make sure they're not hiring underage girls.
"These girls are either scared or they just don’t want to cooperate,” said Sergeant Vicky Malone with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.
Malone says that's their biggest problem.
"In Shelby County we only had one girl that came forward and that was because she already turned 18,” said Sergeant Malone.
Even then, Malone says deputies couldn't charge the girl's boss.
"Only if we find out if she was actually dancing in there when she was 17, which she will not fess up to,” Malone told abc24.com.
Memphis Police and Shelby County deputies are working together on the problem. Malone also wants schools to get involved.
"If we can have programs in schools that can help motivate and get these girls self-esteem up then I think maybe we might tackle the issue that is at hand,” Malone said.
Deputies say runaways and foster teens are the girls most likely to look for work in strip clubs.
