According to a report by CBS New York, on Friday, September 30, 2016, Mount Olive police received a phone call that an unidentified man was walking suspiciously around a parking lot in a suburban New Jersey neighborhood. Officer Anthony Gardner responded to the call at 5:53 p.m. near the Brock Lane area and saw a man enter a nearby apartment in what appeared to be an effort to avoid law enforcement. Officer Gardner approached the apartment, knocked on the door, and spoke with the suspicious man—who then identified himself as Matthew T. Bishop, 42, of Hackettstown, NJ. Soon after entering the apartment, Officer Gardner also found Michelle Bishop, 40, of Hackettstown, NJ, who was allegedly “engaging in prostitution.”
After receiving consent to search the residence, Officer Gardner allegedly discovered turned up folds of heroin and hypodermic syringes. (We previously discussed the intersection between commercial sexual exploitation and the opioid epidemic in our September newsletter). Gardner arrested Mr. and Ms. Bishop based on evidence that a prostitution operation was being run out of their home, where hard drugs were found and the couples’ two children also reside. Prior to this incident, Mount Olive police were investigating Ms. Bishop for prostitution-related charges. Based on her encounter with Officer Gardner, Ms. Bishop was charged with promoting prostitution, running a house of prostitution, and possession of heroin. Mr. Bishop was charged with distribution of drugs, possession of heroin, and promoting prostitution.
To many, prostitution is synonymous with young, vulnerable women in populous, urban areas. Officer Gardner’s encounter with the Bishops proves that sexual exploitation is not limited to age, population, or even geographic area. Undoubtedly, prostitution is prevalent even in suburbia. While this realization may shock many, it is vital for people to realize that commercial sexual exploitation happens in our own backyards. When society begins to realize that traffickers are not picky, and any individual has the potential to fall victim to the sex trade—even a suburban New Jersey mother of two—that is when the dialogue surrounding this issue becomes transformative.
We applaud the Mount Olive residents for being cognizant members of their community and immediately contacting their local police department to address suspicious activity. Recognizing the potential for harm in our local communities and promptly taking action is what will effectuate change on a larger scale—especially for the victims of commercial sexual exploitation. We will keep you informed as this case unfolds; a hearing is scheduled for December 19, 2016 in Morris County Superior Court.