BENTONVILLE -- A Fayetteville man was placed on 10 years of probation Tuesday after he pleaded guilty in a human trafficking case.
Darius Lamell Collier, 20, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to trafficking of persons. Collier admitted in court to transporting a juvenile for commercial sexual purposes. He pleaded guilty under an agreement reached by attorney Brock Showalter and Stuart Cearley, chief deputy prosecutor.
Collier was arrested Oct. 24, 2014, in an operation by the Benton County Sheriff's Office to identify and arrest individuals involved in prostitution, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Deputies arrested a 17-year-old female who showed up at the meeting place -- a Rogers hotel. The female reported she was dropped off there by Collier, according to court documents.
Collier later said the female promised to give him $50 to bring her to the hotel.
Benton County Circuit Judge Robin Green accepted the plea agreement. She placed Collier on probation ordered him to serve 120 days in the Benton County Jail and to register as a sex offender and pay $1,420 in court costs.
NW News on 01/18/2017