Cleveland man gets 20 years for sex trafficking

CLEVELAND (AP) — A judge has sentenced a Cleveland man to 20 years in prison after his conviction on charges he forced a 15-year-old girl into a two-state prostitution scheme.

Defendant Ernest McClain had previously pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of a minor, transportation of a minor to engage in prostitution and possession of child pornography.

Investigators said McClain and a co-defendant forced the 15-year-old runaway to prostitute herself 10 times a day over a month with 200 men.

Investigators said the pair also forced the girl from Ohio to Pennsylvania for the purpose of prostitution.

Cleveland federal judge Aaron Polster sentenced McClain to 20 years in prison today. McClain’s attorney declined to comment.

Co-defendant Chardee Barfield was previously sentenced to 70 months in prison.