Local leaders in the fight against human trafficking called for the community to think first of the teenage victim in the high-profile arrests of two Toledo men accused of engaging in repeated sexual acts with a minor.

“It makes me sick that those accused are African-American men and respected mentors to boys and women, but if these men are guilty don’t be the type of follower of God that equates forgiveness with a lack of accountability,” said Celia Williamson, director of the University of Toledo’s Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute at a news conference Wednesday. “You may choose to forgive them as good Christians might, but let’s make no mistake: While their souls may belong to God, their bodies will belong to the U.S. federal prison system.”

Ms. Williamson prefaced her remarks by acknowledging that the two suspects — the Rev. Cordell Jenkins, 46, and Anthony Haynes, 38, — are innocent until proven guilty. But she urged the community to respond by rallying to support the victim and doing more to prevent human trafficking.

The men were arrested Friday at their Toledo residences and are expected to appear in federal court today for a detention hearing. Both are currently being held in the Lucas County jail.

A teenage girl told investigators that Mr. Haynes sexually exploited her for three years, beginning when she was 14, and exploited her with other men, including Mr. Jenkins.

Mr. Jenkins is the founding pastor of Abundant Life Ministries on Glendale Avenue in Toledo. In 2008 and 2009, he worked as a coordinator in a grant-funded program in Toledo Public Schools. He worked at Woodward High School with students who were not on track to graduate, and TPS is not aware of any complaints or issues during his time with the district, a spokesman said.

Mr. Jenkins is married to Lucas County Administrator Laura Lloyd-Jenkins.

Mr. Haynes was a volunteer with the Read for Literacy program, where he had volunteered from Nov. 17 until his suspension from the program on the day of his arrest. He had read with students at Robinson Elementary School.

Program representatives said they conducted an FBI and state background check before he began participating, and it resulted in a “clean outcome.” Read for Literacy executive director Jeanette Hrovatich said information does not indicate the charges relate to his work with the program.

During a Wednesday news conference at the Reynolds Corners Branch of the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, victim advocates and representatives of local agencies focused on supporting the teen girl and preventing sex trafficking cases.

“This particular case involves some prominent members, members that have the ear of the church community, and so it was important to us to let the community know that they should remember that children come first. Before we pray for the pastors, let’s pray for the children,” said Ms. Williamson, after the event.

She expressed gratitude to authorities for pursuing the case because it shows police will arrest prominent community members who they have evidence against in the trafficking of children.

This high-profile case should raise community awareness and remind parents to pay attention to who is spending time with their children, said Jared Rose, co-chairman of the Lucas County Human Trafficking Coalition.

“Just because an individual holds a high position in the community doesn’t necessarily mean that you should lower your guard with your children,” he said.

Speakers also urged careful consideration of the victim, with one saying it was not a case of prostitution because children cannot give consent.

“There is nobody that gets blamed for being a victim more than someone that’s a victim of sexual assault,” said Deb Stoll, director of the YWCA Northwest Ohio's rape crisis center.

Fanell Williams, the UT institute’s project coordinator, made a direct appeal.

“To the youth involved, what happened is not your fault, and you are not to blame. Young people if you … are being told to trade sex for money, for drugs, for food, for gifts there is help out there,” she said. “To the community, if this issue is ignored, taken lightly, not responded to correctly, our youth are ignored.”

The criminal complaint against the two suspects alleges that Mr. Haynes engaged in sexual acts in front of the victim with an adult woman and later with the teen. Mr. Jenkins allegedly engaged in sexual acts with the girl at his house, a motel, and an area church.

Mr. Jenkins allegedly took her to a Red Roof Inn in Toledo at least two times, and once pressured the girl to find an acquaintance for a shared sexual act.

Authorities said Mr. Jenkins paid the teen for the sex acts.

Mr. Haynes is charged with sex trafficking of a minor and obstruction in the investigation of child sex trafficking. Mr. Jenkins is charged with sex trafficking of a minor and sexual exploitation of children.

To learn more about or volunteer with the local human trafficking coalition, visit lchtc.org.

Contact Vanessa McCray at: vmccray@theblade.com or 419-724-6065, or on Twitter @vanmccray.

First Published April 13, 2017, 4:51 a.m.