News

Actions

Feds: Man kept woman chained to stripper pole

Posted at 9:06 PM, Apr 04, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-04 22:19:38-04

New details are emerging about the government's case against a father of 7 who is facing child pornography and sex trafficking charges.

Ryon Travis appeared in court today to be officially arraigned on the charges.

However, he had previously appeared in court on March 23rd for a detention hearing, During that hearing, the prosecution revealed details of a raid on Travis' home that occurred on March 21. Prosecutors characterized the home as brothel or house of prostitution.

During that raid, police found a woman chained to a stripper pole in the home on Turell. According to prosecutors, the woman told police she had been chained to the pole by the neck for approximately two weeks after trying to escape a prostitution operation that was being operated out of the house.

The woman told officials that the operation began about a year-and-a-half ago, and was publicized through online advertisements. She said the men would come to the house, at which point the women were lined up and introduced to the men, who would choose which one they wanted to have sex with, and what sex act they would like to perform.

The woman told police that, if the women refused to participate, they were beaten. She told officers that one time she refused to participate and was beaten so badly she had to be taken to the hospital

The woman also said that Travis made them turn their Social Security payments over to him, and that they needed his permission to do anything, including sleep and eat.

Prosecutors say that during the raid they discovered a cell phone that belonged to Travis that contained pictures of the woman chained to the stripper pole.

Following the hearing, Travis was ordered held without bail.