A woman involved in prostituting a Bellevue teen is punished for her crimes.
Judge Patricia Lamberty sentences Kylie Ray, 20, to two years probation in Sarpy County District Court on Monday. Ray pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of "attempted felony". She will also have to participate in a 12 step program, trauma group, and parenting classes as part of her probation.
In July, Ray was arrested for sex trafficking a 15-year-old girl at a Bellevue motel near Offutt Air Force Base. Court documents say she rented the room while Branden Felt allegedly put ads on Backpage.com. Felt and Jesse Blum are also charged in the case. Prosecutors say all three were behind the crime.
“So whether to say one was more involved than the other that I'm not really going to get into but I do think all 3 were culpable to the extent that's why we charged them," said Sarpy Co. Deputy Attorney Phil Kleine.
Sentencing guidelines say ray could've received up to 20 years in prison for the Class 2A felony conviction.
The victim's grandfather who we will not identify to protect the teen says the punishment doesn't fit the crime.
"I feel that they should've done more, like she shouldn't have walked, she's part of the group the gang I understand of pimps and all that they should've not slapped her on the wrist they should've given her some time, hard time. It tore up my family," the grandfather explained.
Ray spent 146 days in jail before being released.
The judge took into account her criminal convictions of theft and shoplifting and the fact that she was a prostitute, got pregnant, and then helped the 15-year-old get into sex trafficking.
Felt is awaiting trial, and Blum will be sentenced soon.
