FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, March 23, 2015

Contact: Julie Wilson
(513) 946-3213

OHIO ATTORNEY GENERAL MIKE DEWINE AND HAMILTON

COUNTY PROSECUTOR JOSEPH T. DETERS ANNOUNCE
INDICTMENT IN FIRST HAMILTON COUNTY STATE COURT
HUMAN TRAFFICKING CASE.
Today, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Hamilton County
Prosecutor Joseph T. Deters announced the indictment of Pleasant
Plain, Ohio resident April Corcoran (DOB 4-4-84) on 27 felony counts
in the attached indictment. If convicted of all charges, she faces the
possibility of life in prison.
Also indicted today is Cincinnati resident Shandell Willingham (DOB
8-25-73) on 26 felony counts in the attached indictment. If convicted
of all charges, he faces the possibility of life in prison.
Corcoran is charged with trafficking her 11-year-old daughter H.C. to
Shandell Willingham, her drug dealer, in exchange for heroin. She is
also accused of giving her daughter heroin. Willingham is accused of
sex crimes against the victim, some of which he videotaped. The
sex acts and videotaping occurred in Willinghams Colerain Avenue
apartment.
As indicated in the indictment, this occurred between February 15,
2014 to June 6, 2014. When the victim went to live with her father
and stepmother in June 2014, she revealed what had occurred to her
stepmother. (The victim continues to reside with her father and
stepmother.) The Cincinnati Police Department was contacted and
began an investigation.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, March 23, 2015
Contact: Julie Wilson
(513) 946-3213

Their investigation resulted in todays indictment which will be the first

Hamilton County prosecution in state court for human trafficking.
The prosecution of this case will be a joint prosecution between the
Hamilton County Prosecutors Office and the Ohio Attorney Generals
office.
Prosecutor Deters commented, As a parent, it is hard to imagine
how you could use your child to satisfy your drug addiction. Even
after all my years as a prosecutor, I continue to be amazed at how
badly parents treat their children. What this little girl endured is
unimaginable and I can only hope that mom and drug dealers
prosecution, the love and support of her family, and intense
counseling will help this child regain some trust in the world. This
case is Exhibit A for how devastating heroin is to our communities.
This situation is sad beyond measure, said Ohio Attorney General
Mike DeWine. Instead of protecting her daughter, the mother saw
her as a way to get drugs because the lure of heroin was apparently
too strong.