ST. GEORGE – A Las Vegas man involved in a human trafficking case last year was sentenced to probation Wednesday.
Leroy Haley III, 31, appeared before Judge Michael Westfall in Fifth District Court Wednesday. Though the Washington County Attorney’s Office sought prison time for Haley, Westfall went with a recommendation for parole submitted by Adult Probation and Parole based on the results of a pre-sentencing investigation, Washington County Deputy Attorney Eric Gentry said Thursday.
Haley was sentenced to serve 180 days in jail. Time spent in Purgatory Correctional Facility following his arrest in August 2013 was counted as time served. Westfall also ordered Haley to undergo a drug abuse evaluation, acquire a high school diploma or GED, pay court fees, and stay away from individuals involved in drugs and alcohol for 36 months.
Though he ruled in favor of the probation recommendation, Westfall appeared to have reservations about it, Gentry said.
Haley’s minimal criminal history and the need to support a family were among reasons cited for the judge’s final ruling.
In June, Haley pleaded guilty to multiple felonies and a misdemeanor charge as part of a plea deal. Specifically, he pleaded to one count of second-degree felony aggravated human tracking, two counts of third-degree felony exploitation of a prostitute, one count of third-degree felony assault by a prisoner, and one count of third-degree felony drug possession with intent to distribute.
Haley was arrested Aug. 24, 2013, as a part of a vice sting conducted by the St. George Police Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations. The sting also led to the arrest of Francis Mary Uhrhan, 20, of Las Vegas. A 17-year-old juvenile was also apprehended in the sting and soon after identified as a victim.
According to arresting documents, Haley was described as being Uhrhan’s and the 17-year-old female’s “pimp.” He also allegedly drove them from Las Vegas to St. George and Salt Lake City to engage in acts of prostitution. Both women told police Haley had been physically abusive toward them.
Uhrhan had driven a car registered to Haley to the hotel where the sting operation took place. Investigators located the hotel in St. George where Haley and the others had been staying and arrested him. A search of the hotel room turned up a distributable amount of drugs connected to Haley.
Both Haley and Uhrhan originally pleaded not guilty to criminal charges on Oct. 23, 2013. However, Uhrhan later pleaded guilty. Uhrhan was sentenced to one year in jail and 36 months supervised probation.
Following the vice sting, the juvenile victim was taken to the Washington County Youth Crisis Center and released to her parents’ custody.
Members of Haley’s family, including his parents, were present in court during the sentencing, Gentry said.
Related post
- Las Vegas man pleads guilty to human trafficking
- Las Vegas woman receives jail sentence in human trafficking, prostitution case
- Two accused of human trafficking, exploiting prostitute plead not guilty to charges
- Charges added in human trafficking sting; juvenile victim
- Prostitution sting: four adults, one juvenile arrested
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He certainly doesn’t look like a bishop out of st george. who was that bishop caught in the prostitution sting?