Jacksonville man charged with two counts of sex trafficking

Mugshots: Five women arrested for prostitution in Jacksonville

A local man is accused of sex trafficking two victims in the middle of Jacksonville's Southside.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office arrested Michael Cook, 22, on Wednesday.

Action News Jax spoke with a woman who said Cook is like a son to her.

“I crumpled like any person would who looks at a child like they were her family,” she said.

According to the JSO arrest report, the trafficking occurred at a unit at a Quality Inn.

It states one of the alleged victims is a child under the age of 18, or someone who is mentally defective or mentally incapacitated.

It says the other victim is an adult, coerced into sexual activity.

“It’s not Mikey,” said the woman, who lives at the address listed in the report. “That’s not who he is, so no, I don’t believe that it’s true.”

JSO crime-mapping data shows police have been called to within a quarter-mile of the listed address 80 times in the last six months.

At least 16 of those calls were for violent offenses like robbery, carjacking and battery.

In February, Action News Jax told you when a man was shot in the face during a robbery in this same apartment complex.

“Murders have happened, people have been stabbed, assaulted, drug dealing, apparently trafficking now,” said neighbor Jordyn Peterson. “It’s crazy how far downhill this place has gotten. It’s not safe anymore.”

In addition to the human trafficking charges, Cook also faces two other drug-related charges, including trafficking cocaine.

He's being held without bond and will be back in court in September.

Cox Media Group