FORT WORTH (WFAA) — A man has been arrested for compelling prostitution of a child, Fort Worth police said on Friday.
Declois Garrett Beacham, 34, was arrested just before 11 a.m. Friday morning and has since been freed on $25,000 bond.
Beacham is the artistic director at the well-known Jubilee Theater in downtown Fort Worth. He was originally wanted for sexual assault, but the 11-year-old boy who first accused him of sex assault has recanted that accusation.
Multiple children identified Beacham, who is known as Tre Garrett in the theater community, as the man who offered them money in exchange for sex.
Fort Worth police said in a press conference that they determined Beacham was their suspect and put surveillance on him for several days before making an arrest.
Police say on Jan. 12 he was driving a silver BMW and asked two 11-year-olds if they wanted to make a hundred dollars. He approached the children about 7 p.m. near an apartment complex in the 5400 block of East Rosedale Street. One boy agreed.
"So he directed the victim to run to the back gate of the complex," said Fort Worth police Detective Chris Daniels. "The suspect showed him the money and asked him to get into the vehicle. The victim did, and the suspect drove down the street. At that point, we believe an assault occurred."
The other child ran and told the victim's mother, who called police.
A 17-year-old Dunbar High School student identified Beacham as the same man who tried to lure him into his car on Jan. 9 in the 1800 block of Lucas Drive. He said a man in a silver BMW approached him as he walked home from school and twice offered him $100 for sex. Police said the student refused and told his father, who called police.
A third incident involving a 13-year-old boy took place in mid-December and was reported on Thursday, police said. The boy was again offered $100, but refused and ran away. He also identified Beacham as the suspect.
All the locations are near East Rosedale Street and Loop 820 in southeast Fort Worth.
"There are kids out here that will take money, and don't know the consequences of their actions," said Desaray Green, who lives in the neighborhood. "For a grown man to pray on kids, that's not right at all."
Beacham has been charged with two counts of Compelling Prostitution-Child Under 18 Years, which is a first degree felony.
A representative from the theater released a statement Friday concerning Beacham's arrest:
"I have known Tre for five years, and have not seen any indication he would participate in the kind of behavior he is accused of. He is a very talented individual and has done excellent work at Jubilee and other theaters in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. We will have to wait and see how the situation unfolds."
According to an arrest affidavit, Beacham said he is not guilty. His attorney, Pat Kurran, also said his client maintains his innocence.
