NewsWest 9
MIDLAND/ODESSA - Two men accused of having sex with a 14-year-old girl are headed back to Midland to face a federal judge.
One of those men is also accused of forcing the teen into prostitution.
It's a case that started online in Houston, then went to Amarillo, Odessa and San Angelo, and it's now making its way back to Midland.
It all started when 25-year-old Brian Phea contacted a 14-year-old girl on a social media web site called Tagged.
According to federal affidavit, Phea bought the girl a bus ticket to Amarillo so he could take care of her.
Once in Amarillo, Phea allegedly had sex with the 14-year-old girl in his mother's house.
The next day, Phea brought the girl to a Quality Inn in Odessa where he gave her a phone and forced the girl into prostitution.
Midland County Sheriff Gary Painter said this happens in Midland/Odessa more than you might think.
"I've seen it a lot," Sheriff Painter said. "There was one advertised in the Thrifty Nickel, we traced it. One of them was a 17-year-old and she was being forced into it."
Phea advertised the girl on web sites like Backpage and Superescortpages.com.
"We have advertised in some of these web sites and we have got the 'Johns,' the people willing to pay for it, on stings," Sheriff Painter said. "If there wasn't people willing to pay for it then you wouldn't have it."
When the teen made it clear she did not want to sell her body, Phea hit her so hard it ruptured her ear drum. He also tased her with a stun gun.
After another forced sexual encounter with a man at the Elegante, Phea's friend came to take the girl back to Houston.
The girl and 26-year-old Trevin Rounds were stopped in Eden, TX where sheriff deputies uncovered the crime.
Sheriff Painter said it's hard for the kids caught up in these crimes to get out once forced in.
"They get to talking to them and they befriend them, they'll give them a room or they'll buy them food or do this or do that," he said. "Then this young person feels obligated to the individual because they helped them out."
Phea and Rounds both had their initial hearings last week.
U.S. District Attorney John Klassen said Rounds is likely on his way to Midland right now.
Phea could be here by the end of the week.
"That one needs to be gone up forever," Sheriff Painter said. "He needs to be locked up from now on."
