A grand jury returned an indictment on May 23, against a Pleasantville man for promoting prostitution and weapons charges, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner announced.
Authorities said Henry Lovest, 42, was indicted on 3rd degree Promoting Prostitution, 3rd degree Receiving Stolen Property (Firearm), 1st degree Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, and 2nd degree Certain Person not to Possess a Firearm.
According to officials, Lovest forced females to engage in prostitution through threats of serious bodily harm and the provision of drugs. Lovest forced women to turn over all of the proceeds that they made from prostitution activity. On February 28, 2018, a search warrant was executed at the Homestead Lodge, located at 701 Black Horse Pike, Pleasantville and a vehicle was also searched at that time. Pursuant to that search, a firearm was seized.
These charges are the result of a long term joint investigation between ACPO Special Victims Unit and the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force.
These charges are merely an accusation and not proof of guilt. In all criminal cases, a charged defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page.