Man gets 15 years for child sex trafficking

A Columbia man was sentenced in federal court Wednesday in connection with a child sex trafficking case in Osage Beach.

Kenyata D. Miles, 35, was sentenced to 15 years and eight months in federal prison without parole.

Miles, who owned and operated Precision Commercial and Residential Cleaning, pleaded guilty May 16 admitting he booked two rooms for two nights at the Quail's Nest Motel in Osage Beach in April 2013. Law enforcement officers found a 16-year-old female who had been reported as missing in one of the rooms; Miles and two women were in an adjacent room.

Advertisements had been posted on Backpage.com advertising the availability of the child victim and one of the women for sexual services. Miles arranged hotel reservations and provided transportation to hotels for their prostitution activities.

According to court documents, the minor victim had also traveled with Miles and a woman identified as "K.M." to St. Louis, where they engaged in prostitution. When they returned to Columbia, the minor victim again engaged in prostitution. Miles became increasingly violent, according to K.M., and assaulted her and threatened her with a gun. Miles initially split the prostitution proceeds with her and the minor victim, K.M. told investigators, but had recently only been giving them money for necessities.

According to court documents, Miles has an extensive criminal history, including a history of violent criminal behavior and drug abuse. He has been incarcerated or under court supervision for much of his adult life.