Executive Summary
- Marlon Honore faces charges of human trafficking, battery of a child, and unlawful sexual activity with a minor.
- Police allege Honore lured a 17-year-old runaway to a Pahokee warehouse and held her for two days.
- Investigators cite testimonial evidence and Instagram messages alleging commercial sexual transactions.
- Florida law classifies trafficking a minor as a life felony where consent and ignorance of age are not defenses.
A Palm Beach County man has been arrested and charged with multiple felonies, including human trafficking, after investigators alleged he lured a teenage girl into his vehicle and held her for two days at a commercial warehouse. Marlon Honore was taken into custody following an investigation into an incident reported in November 2025, which involves a 17-year-old female victim.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO), the investigation was initiated after the minor’s parents discovered text messages on her phone and contacted authorities. The police report states that Honore observed the victim, who was a runaway at the time, walking in Lake Worth and offered to purchase food for her. After she accepted and entered his vehicle, investigators allege Honore drove her to a warehouse in Pahokee where he was employed working on vehicles.
The victim informed detectives that she remained at the warehouse with Honore for two days. During this period, the affidavit alleges that sexual acts occurred and progressed in severity, for which Honore paid the victim $300. The report further details allegations of physical abuse, noting that the victim claimed Honore struck her with a belt after she requested a vape pen. Although the victim stated Honore did not verbally threaten her, he reportedly instructed her not to disclose their interactions to friends to avoid legal trouble.
Court records indicate that Honore eventually dropped the victim off, and she returned to her residence. However, the two allegedly continued to communicate via Instagram, where Honore attempted to persuade the teen to meet him again. When interviewed by detectives, Honore admitted to meeting the victim in Lake Worth and knowing she was a runaway, but he denied taking her to the warehouse or engaging in sexual acts. He claimed he provided her with money for food and advised her to return home.
Judicial Context and Statutory Implications
The charges levied against Honore reflect the stringent nature of Florida’s human trafficking laws, particularly regarding minors. Under state statute, trafficking a child under 18 for commercial sexual activity is classified as a life felony. Legal analysts emphasize that in such prosecutions, the minor’s consent is legally irrelevant, and ignorance of the victim’s age is not a valid defense. The law operates under strict liability, defining trafficking by the exchange of anything of value for sexual acts. Honore remains in the Palm Beach County Jail, held without bond on four counts and with a $58,000 bond for the remaining charges. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
