A man alleged of abusing children all over Texas for years was finally arrested. The predator recently kidnapped a 16-year-old girl for online escort advertisements who was also sexually assaulted in some hotels.
According to the arrest affidavit, Bernell Quillens, 35, is accused of committing the alleged acts on June 30, 2015, using the website Backpage together with his partner, Nancy Cisneros, 43.
The victim, identified as S.S. by investigators, told authorities in a recorded interview November 18, 2015, that she met Cisneros, who she called Nancy, and Quillens, identified in the affidavit as “Real”, June 29, 2015. The victim said she knew Cisneros through a mutual acquaintance and that she believed she was a prostitute.
Over the course of 24 hours, the victim was reportedly taken to a ‘La Quinta hotel in San Marcos’, where Quilens and Cisneros took explicit pictures of her using her cell phone to post on Backpage. She claimed that she was also was videotaped having sex with a woman known as Hailey before she was allegedly sexually assaulted by Quillens.
On Wednesday, Cisneros and Quillens are charged with trafficking of a child for sexual purposes. Their combined bail is set at $700,000. Quillens was facing six life sentences for three counts of compelling prostitution and three counts of trafficking a person. The jury gave him 40 years on each count. The state agreed to run each count concurrently.
The Office of the Attorney General said they found all digital evidence that the victim specified to them on the Backpage.com website. The CEO of the site was arrested at Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston on Oct. 6.
Rhonda Budwit, the girl’s mother, said her life is a nightmare since 2015 knowing that her daughter was used for sex at various hotels along Interstate 35. The decisions made by the jury this week was something she has been waiting for. Though nothing about this process has been easy for her, much less her daughter.
“My daughter was diagnosed with PTSD and anxiety. She developed an eating disorder and lost over 50 pounds. Her hair fell out. She needed to take medications to help her sleep or deal with the anxiety when she experienced a flashback,” said Budwit. “She was just a really outgoing, energetic young lady. Afterwards, she’s completely opposite.”
She added that she had to sell her house since her daughter will no longer return there because of the bad memories.
Since 2015, Rhonda gained a new life mission. She has been reaching out to victims, volunteering with non-profits and showing her face to give other victims the courage to speak out.
Article Sources: Kxan, WFFA, Crime Watch Daily/Facebook Photo Credit: ABC7 Video Credit: Kxan/YouTube
