Couple to stand trial in teenage sex trafficking case

A boyfriend and girlfriend charged with using a Merced teenager for sex trafficking were ordered to stand trial earlier this week in Merced Superior Court.

Stephen L. Montgomery, 23, and Amanda C. Baker, 20, were held for trial by Judge David W. Moranda on accusations of coercing a 16-year-old girl to act as a prostitute. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty, the Merced County District Attorney’s Office confirmed.

Baker also will be tried on charges of possession of pornographic material depicting a minor, which, according to Merced police, stemmed from Baker posting a sexually explicit photograph of the teenager on a prostitution web page.

The judge dismissed the same charge against Montgomery, citing a lack of evidence that Montgomery had anything to do with posting the picture, authorities said.

Ilia McKinney, the deputy district attorney prosecuting the case, said she plans on refiling the pornography charge against Montgomery, saying she believes there’s enough evidence for a jury to convict him at trial.

McKinney said the girl believed to have been the victim in the case, who is now 17, testified that she didn’t feel she was coerced into prostitution by Baker or Montgomery.

McKinney, however, said Baker and Montgomery profited from the girl’s sexual activities and encouraged her to continue the practice. McKinney also argued that the girl remains too young to consent legally to such activities.

Baker’s attorney, Jeffrey Tenenbaum, said his client “continues to deny any allegations that she forced any child into prostitution.”

Efforts to reach Montgomery’s attorney, Deputy Public Defender Sean Howard, were unsuccessful.

Both defendants are due back in court April 29 for arraignment.

This story was originally published March 31, 2015 at 5:39 PM with the headline "Couple to stand trial in teenage sex trafficking case."