Men To Serve 6 Months In Sex Slave Case
Woman, 22, Forced To Have Sex In Tennessee, Georgia, Florida
POSTED: 3:54 pm CST November 18,
2008
UPDATED: 11:55 pm CST November 18,
2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Two men who were accused of forcing a woman to have sex in multiple states for three years will be held in prison for six months.
Video: Men Sentenced To 6 Months In Sex Slave CaseJesus Garcia and Arturo Perez could have received a sentence of eight to 12 years in prison under the state's new sexual servitude law, but the victim refused to testify.Garcia and Perez were charged after the case came to light a few weeks ago during a prostitution sting. The men are said to have told the woman they would kill her family in Mexico and her sister in Atlanta if she didn't follow their orders.The 22-year-old woman was driven between Tennessee, Georgia and Florida in an effort to confuse her about her whereabouts since January 2005, said investigators.The woman was forced to engage in prostitution with up to seven men a day, according to court records.Investigators said she was tortured, stabbed and cut with an ice pick to maintain her obedience.Garcia and Arturo Perez are illegal immigrants who face deportation after serving their sentence.Sara Sherman and Cecilia Hilton, who both work in anti-slavery outreach for Free For Life Ministries in Nashville, hoped this case would be the beginning of harsher sentences for these crimes.The said they were upset to hear from the district attorney that a plea agreement was reached and a six-month sentence was issued.
Video: Men Sentenced To 6 Months In Sex Slave CaseJesus Garcia and Arturo Perez could have received a sentence of eight to 12 years in prison under the state's new sexual servitude law, but the victim refused to testify.Garcia and Perez were charged after the case came to light a few weeks ago during a prostitution sting. The men are said to have told the woman they would kill her family in Mexico and her sister in Atlanta if she didn't follow their orders.The 22-year-old woman was driven between Tennessee, Georgia and Florida in an effort to confuse her about her whereabouts since January 2005, said investigators.The woman was forced to engage in prostitution with up to seven men a day, according to court records.Investigators said she was tortured, stabbed and cut with an ice pick to maintain her obedience.Garcia and Arturo Perez are illegal immigrants who face deportation after serving their sentence.Sara Sherman and Cecilia Hilton, who both work in anti-slavery outreach for Free For Life Ministries in Nashville, hoped this case would be the beginning of harsher sentences for these crimes.The said they were upset to hear from the district attorney that a plea agreement was reached and a six-month sentence was issued.
Previous Story:
- November 14, 2008: Men Accused Of Running Sex Slave Operation
Copyright 2009 by WSMV.com. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Got a story idea? E-mail newstips to news@wsmv.com or call the newsroom 24/7 at 615-353-2231.
