KINGMAN, Ariz. – An alleged human trafficking case has been watered down to a hand slap for a man accused of attempting to involve a woman and her four-year-old daughter in prostitution. Area newspapers published a picture of a DPS trooper holding the girl’s hand while walking her to a restaurant where she and her mother were rescued east of Kingman in mid-May.
The woman told authorities that Marcelis Carty, 25, Covington, Washington, transported she and her daughter from Nevada to Arizona for the purpose of prostitution. The woman was able to use text messages to alert authorities who located the suspect vehicle at the Love’s gas station off Interstate 40.
The mother and daughter were placed at a women’s shelter for assistance. Carty was jailed on prostitution and pandering charges.
Carty was released from the Mohave County Adult Detention Center after entering a plea agreement on July 23. He pleaded guilty to a charge reduced to attempted pandering.
Defense attorney Bob Heieck noted that the state is challenged to prove its case at trial. He said authorities have lost contact and are unable to reach the adult victim.
Judge Ryan Esplin said he understands why the case against Carty is being resolved in lenient fashion.
“If the allegations here were true, there would be different circumstances,” Esplin said. “You’d likely be going to prison.”
Terms of the deal required Carty’s release after he spent 190 days in jail awaiting trial. Esplin placed Carty on probation for one year and ordered him to perform 24 hours of community work service.
