33-year-old woman and a man convicted of sex trafficking and conspiring to sex traffic Charlotte teenage girl
A 33-year-old woman, Kristi King and a man, Tawaan Batten have been convicted by a federal jury for sex trafficking a 15-year-old girl in Charlotte, North Carolina.
They were convicted during a trial on December 13.
15-year-old Charlotte teenager was pimped out across two states, South Carolina and North Carolina
Federal court documents, trial testimony, and evidence showed that from July 2021 to December 2021, Batten conspired to sex traffic a 15-year-old girl in both North Carolina and South Carolina.
15-year-old Charlotte girl was promoted on sex websites and put up in hotels for customers
During the trial, evidence revealed that Kristi King posted advertisements featuring the minor child on commercial sex websites and arranged for customers to engage in sexual activities with the child. King also made hotel reservations, including in the West Sugar Creek area of the Queen City.
Trial evidence showed that all the money the victim earned from the illegal encounters was kept by Batten.
Tawaan Batten got the 15-year-old Charlotte teen tattoos to help advertise her for sex customers
Trial evidence showed that Tawaan Batten used various physical and psychological methods to control the 15-year-old teenager, including branding the minor with tattoos.
The teenager eventually came into contact with the police and reported the encounters, Batten and King were arrested.
Tawaan Batten convicted of sex trafficking and minor and Kristi King pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sex traffic a minor
Jurors in the federal trial convicted Tawaan Batten of one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor, one count of sex trafficking of a minor, and one count of transporting a minor with the intent to engage in commercial sexual activity.
Kristi King pleaded guilty to conspiring to sex traffic a minor.
Both are awaiting sentencing.
The trial lasted for three days.
