Fourth Battle Creek Man Sentenced For Trafficking Teens For Sex

The last of four Battle Creek residents accused of taking part in efforts to traffic teenage girls for sex has now been sentenced.

MLive says that 28-year-old James Smith was in US District Court in Grand Rapids Thursday, and sentenced to 20 years in prison for a charge of sex trafficking of a minor. Prosecutors say that Smith, along with three other co-defendants, forced two 14-year-old runaways into prostitution, gave them drugs and threatened them with violence.

The two girls were able to eventually escape and get help.

Earlier this year, 24-year-old William Edwards and 25-year-old Dakota Walters were also sentenced to 20 years in prison, while 22-year-old Michael Noble was sentenced to 4 years.

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