Child prostitution ring trial begins in Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Trial is under way in Oklahoma City federal court for a man accused in a child prostitution ring. <br/><br/>Troy Lamar Sutherland is charged with two counts alleging that he trafficked

Tuesday, January 11th 2005, 6:13 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Trial is under way in Oklahoma City federal court for a man accused in a child prostitution ring.

Troy Lamar Sutherland is charged with two counts alleging that he trafficked 16, 15 and 13-year-old girls for purposes of prostitution in March 2003.

Sutherland is one of nine alleged pimps charged in May in federal court after a yearlong, FBI-led investigation into child sex trafficking in Oklahoma City. The other eight pleaded guilty.

Sutherland could face life in prison if convicted.

U-S Attorney Robert McCampbell said Sutherland picked up the girls in Wichita, Kansas, and took them to Blue Springs, Missouri, where he gave them drugs, makeup, suggestive clothing and dyed two of the girls' hair blond.

McCampbell says Sutherland drove two girls to a truck stop, gave them condoms and sanitary wipes and then collected the money after the teenagers had sex with men.

Sutherland's attorney says his client is a family man, owner of a painting business and never asked the girls to prostitute.