Three defendants sentenced in Phoenix teen prostitution case
June 9th, 2008 @ 7:21pm
by Associated Press

PHOENIX (AP) _ The Maricopa County Attorney's Office has announced that three defendants have been sentenced for their roles in the kidnapping and sexual assault of a 16-year-old El Mirage girl.

Twenty-two-old Janelle Butler was accused of kidnapping and prostituting the teen using an Internet site to find clients.

County prosecutors say Butler received 10.5 years plus three lifetime probations.

Two other defendants, 22-year-old Deairick Newsome and 20-year-old Bianca Vierra received seven years and 6.5 years respectively.

Investigators said the victim was kidnapped, gang raped and forced to engage in acts of prostitution.

She was held captive for 42 days, and initially forced to sleep in a dog kennel. Later, she was forced to hide inside a bed frame.

The teen was rescued on November 8, 2005 by Phoenix Police.



http://ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=862137