Couple accused in S.D. sex ring plead not guilty

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A couple in the southeastern South Dakota town of Tea who are accused of using their home as a base for an underage sex trafficking operation have pleaded not guilty.

Twenty-six-year-old Brandon Thompson and his 30-year-old girlfriend, Megan Hayes, appeared Monday in federal court in Sioux Falls. They are accused of conspiring to sell the services of three teenagers through online ads.

Thompson pleaded not guilty to three counts of child sex trafficking, two counts of transporting a child for sexual activity and one count of obstruction of sex trafficking enforcement. If convicted on all counts, he faces at least 45 years and up to 65 years in federal prison.

Hayes pleaded not guilty to one count of sex trafficking of a child. If convicted, she faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.

Tags: south dakota, sex ring, news, sex, trafficking, daily updates