Woman reports being forced to prostitute for six years

Authorities are investigating a woman’s claims that she was forced into the sex trade for the past six years.

Officers were sent to the 800 block of North Market at about 6 p.m. Thursday to investigate a possible case of domestic violence, Lt. James Espinoza said. When they arrived, the 37-year-old woman told them a 36-year-old man demanded $40 she had received from johns. When she refused to give him the money, he began to beat her, she said.

He had beaten her repeatedly over the course of the six years he had used her as a prostitute, she said. Officers found meth in his possession, Espinoza said.

The suspect was booked on suspicion of drug possession, aggravated robbery and using the woman for prostitution. Investigators are looking into whether the victim was taken elsewhere as part of sex trafficking, Espinoza said.

This story was originally published December 18, 2015 at 1:04 PM with the headline "Woman reports being forced to prostitute for six years."