Prison, community service for teen prostitute's clients

Twelve of the 29 men suspected of having paid sex with a 16 year old girl in the Valkenburg teen prostitution case were sentenced by the court in Maastricht on Thursday. The court sentenced two men to prison sentences of 5 and 6 months, three of which unconditional. The rest were given community service and one day in prison, NU reports. In all 12 cases the court considers it proven that the men committed lewd sexual acts with the 16 year old girl. A mitigating factor is that the court assumed that the suspects were not deliberately looking for sex with a minor. According to the court, the defendants seriously violated the physical integrity of the girl and caused her psychological damage. The two men who received prison sentences were considered more responsible due to their social activities. The man who received 6 months was employed as a youth leader a youth welfare institution where he provided guidance to young people with severe behavioral problems. The court did not impose a work ban on the man because he was not yet employed in that function when he committed the offense. Eight men were given 180 hours of community service, on was given 120 hours and one 240 hours. All ten of them also have to spend one day in jail. The Public Prosecutor immediately announced that appeals will be filed against all these decisions. The prosecutor demanded prison sentences of between five and 12 months against these defendants. The court decided that community service would better suit the offenses, but legally has to impose a prison sentence, according to NU. For this reason the men who got community service also have to spend one day in jail. The second group of suspects will hear their verdict on July 30th. For three suspects the court will rule later due to, respectively, illness, legal reasons and stays abroad. One suspect was acquitted immediately during his hearing due to lack of evidence. The girl was incited into prostitution by 21 year old pimp Armin A. He was sentenced to two years in prison earlier this month. The names of the girls' clients were found on A.'s cellphone. The phone contained about 80 customers the girl had contact with. The Public Prosecutor eventually collected enough evidence to prosecute 29 of these men.