Fourth man pleads guily in sex slave case

January 6, 2012 Local News No comments

Fourth man pleads guily in sex slave case

BY KATHEE BAIRD
A Lebanon man has pleaded guilty in federal court to his role in the sex trafficking of a young, mentally deficient woman.

Michael A. Stokes, 63, is among a group of six people who coerced the woman into being a sex slave for several years while she was tortured in a trailer home in a wooded area in Lebanon. The abuse of the woman was uncovered after she was taken to a hospital near death after being electrocuted during a torture session in February of 2009.
Stokes, also known as The Rodent, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Dean Whipple to his role in a conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion. Stokes’ guilty plea marks the fourth and final person in this case to be convicted under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.[adsenseyu1]
Stokes became familiar with the female victim (FV) in 2006 when he received pictures of her over the Internet, allegedly from her “master” Edward Bagley, in which she was naked with whip marks over her body. Stokes was told that the victim was a slave for “life” who was tortured for hours at a time and was required to do “everything and anything” she was told.
After a few weeks of chatting online, the plea agreement says, a co-conspirator brought the victim to Stokes’ house so she could do a “demo” for him. When they arrived at Stokes’ home, bringing a duffle bag of torture devices with them, FV was instructed to “put on a show for us.” FV was naked, wearing only dog collars and ankle collars with locks. Stokes was asked whether he wanted to have sex with her. Stokes said “yes” and he had sex with FV.

In 2009, Stokes was warned that there was an FBI investigation involving his conduct with FV. Stokes went on his computer and deleted hundreds of photos, his contacts with other females online, pictures of FV that he saved, and destroyed his copies of Taboo magazine and the sexual devices that he had acquired.

Under federal statutes, Stokes is subject to a sentence of up to five years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $250,000 and an order of restitution.

Stokes is the fourth defendant in this human trafficking case to plead guilty.

Co-defendant Bradley Cook, also known as PutHer2GoodUse, 33, of Kirkwood, pleaded guilty on Dec. 20, 2011, for his role in a conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion.
Co-defendant Dennis Henry, 51, of Wheatland, formerly the postmaster of Nevada, Mo., pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion. Henry also pleaded guilty to transporting the victim across state lines for sexual activity.

Co-defendant James Noel, 45, of Springfield, also pleaded guilty to participating in the conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion. Noel admitted he was one of the customers who sexually abused and tortured FV. Noel watched the victim being tortured and sometimes operated torture devices himself beginning in 2006, when she was approximately 20 years old.

Under federal statutes, Noel is subject to a sentence of up to five years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $250,000 and an order of restitution.

The trials for Edward Bagley and his wife, Marilyn, who is also facing charges connected to this case, is scheduled to begin on February 13, 2012.

This case was investigated by the FBI in conjunction with the Human Trafficking Rescue Project.