A Minneapolis man forced a 14-year-old girl who had runaway from home into sex trafficking, threatening to kill her if she didn’t comply, charges say.
St. Paul police officers made contact with the girl last Tuesday, after she reported to staff at United Hospital what happened to her.
She told police that her previous “pimp” essentially sold her to Ricardo Antonio Miranda earlier this month. Miranda used the photos he already posted of her online to advertise the young teen for sex, according to the criminal complaint filed Friday in Ramsey County District Court.
Then he took her to a Motel 6 on Old Hudson Road and forced her to have commercial sex with around 10 individuals a night, charging between $160 and $260 depending on the time they spent, the girl told police.
If she refused to cooperate, Miranda threatened to kill her, the complaint said.
Miranda and the girl stayed in the hotel about four nights.
Miranda raped her twice, charges say. The girl eventually contacted her brother, the complaint said. The brother took her to United Hospital.
Officers saw injuries on the girl’s eye and mouth when they interviewed her. She said some were caused by Miranda burning her with a methamphetamine pipe and hitting her with a bag of tent poles. Another was caused by a “john” hitting her with a brick, the complaint said.
Police found two cell phones on Miranda when they arrested him. He declined to make a statement to officers.
He was charged Friday with engaging in the sex trafficking of a minor as well as receiving profits from the prostitution of someone under 18.
He made his first court appearance on the allegations Friday afternoon. His next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 25.
His criminal record includes past convictions for manslaughter, second- and fifth-degree assault, theft and disorderly conduct.
