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Man Accused of Sex Slavery Arrested in Niagara

By Sharon Osorio

July 9, 2010 Updated May 14, 2008 at 7:03 PM EST

35-year-old Todd Barkau was indicted last Wednesday in Missouri, charged in connection with training and trafficking the girl he dubbed "Mistress Alisha" to be a dominatrix for 5 years, starting when she was 12..
She's the daughter of the woman living with Barkau at the time in suburban Kansas City.
Authorities looking for him sent his picture to agencies including the local FBI. Buffalo agents recognized the background in the photo as a local mall, which 7 News has learned was the Fashion Outlets in the Town of Niagara.
Agents went to the mall and did not find him. But they spotted his car, waited, and arrested him once he returned to his vehicle.
Barkau was working in construction in the immediate vicinity of the mall, and had lived in the area for several months.
Authorities have also charged the victim's mother, who allegedly knew and approved of Barkau's alleged business. She is also being charged.
Although this case stems from Missouri, similar problems are occurring in Western New York. And authorities say you can help authorities break these cases by reporting suspicious behavior.
Elizabeth Fildes from the Erie County Sheriff's Office offers these pointers:
"Do you see people shut in all the time, do you see them leave work, can they leave on their own or do they go in large groups, does a van pick them up?"

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