20 Years In Prison For North Bergen Man Who Trafficked Girl, 15, As Prostitute

NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A North Bergen, New Jersey man was sentenced to 20 years in prison Thursday after admitting to trafficking a 15-year-old as a prostitute.

Charles P. Torres, 56, pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree human trafficking, promoting prostitution, sexual assault, causing a child to engage in a sex act while being photographed, and endangering the welfare of a child.

He was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Richard T. Sules, according to the Essex County Prosecutor's office.

Torres must serve all 20 years before he is eligible for parole.

Charges were dropped for Torres' son, Charles Benjamin Torres, 27, of Ridgefield Park, who was also charged with promoting prostitution.

Torres admitted to Judge Sherry Hutchins-Henderson that he recruited and enticed a 15-year-old girl to work as a prostitute in Essex and Hudson counties, prosecutors said. He said he advertised the victim on the Internet and took money from adult men to have sex with the girl, police said.

He also admitted that he sexually assaulted the girl himself and photographed her in sexual situations, prosecutors said.

Torres has 14 prior arrests and five prior convictions for prostitution, prosecutors said.

In addition to his sentence, he will have to register as a sex offender for life under Megan's Law, and pay a $25,000 fine to the Human Trafficking Survivor's Assistance Fund.

Co-defendant Victor Reyes, 39, of Union City, pleaded guilty to third-degree money laundering and will receive a sentence of probation on Feb. 19. Another co-defendant, Patricia Munoz, 24, of Jersey City, has yet to plead guilty or go to trial.