In a shocking turn of events, the brother-in-law of failed Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams has been arrested on charges of human trafficking, battery, and lewd or lascivious touching of a minor. Jimmie Gardner, a 57-year-old motivational speaker and husband of federal judge Leslie Abrams Gardner, is accused of attempting to pay a 16-year-old girl for sex at a hotel in Tampa, Florida. According to police reports, the incident took place at the Renaissance Hotel at International Plaza in the early hours of Friday morning.

Authorities have revealed that Gardner met the minor at around 1:40 a.m. and invited her to his hotel room. The girl initially agreed to engage in sexual activity with him in exchange for money. However, she later changed her mind, angering Gardner. The situation quickly escalated into a verbal altercation, and Gardner allegedly grabbed the girl by the neck, cutting off her breathing. Fearing for her safety, the victim called 911 while Gardner left the hotel room.

When police arrived at the scene, they found the distressed girl and began their investigation. Meanwhile, Gardner turned himself in at a nearby police precinct. He now faces one felony count of human trafficking for commercial sexual activity with a victim under the age of 18, one felony count of lewd or lascivious touching of a minor between the ages of 16 and 17, and one misdemeanor count of battery.

This is not the first time Gardner has faced serious charges. In 1987, he was convicted of sexually assaulting two women in West Virginia. However, after spending 25 years in prison, he was exonerated in 2016. The Office of the State Attorney for the 13th Judicial Circuit confirmed this information and emphasized that Gardner will be treated as any other offender.

Stacey Abrams, a prominent Democratic activist and two-time failed gubernatorial candidate, has not publicly commented on her brother-in-law's arrest. The media has reached out to her and her sister, Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner, for their statements on the matter.

Jimmie Gardner, who was once drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 1984, now works as a motivational speaker and emotional intelligence trainer for students and formerly incarcerated individuals. His Instagram page describes him as a "27-year wrongful conviction survivor," a social justice advocate, a mentor to at-risk youth, and a "freedom fighter."

Gardner is currently being held at the Orient Road Jail without bond. He is scheduled to appear before a judge in Tampa for his first court appearance. The seriousness of the charges he faces underscores the importance of addressing human trafficking and protecting vulnerable individuals, especially minors, from such heinous crimes.