NH National Guardsman Convicted of Sex Trafficking

A local man was found guilty of sex trafficking of a minor in Texas yesterday, according to the San Antonio Express-News.

Lt. Col. Raymond Valas of Bow was found guilty of the charge after a jury met for four hours during two days of deliberation.

Valas was arrested in May in New York after allegations surfaced that he might be “a customer of the juveniles, who allegedly were forced or manipulated into prostitution” back in August 2013, according to an indictment, while he was in visiting in Texas on an assignment. The girl, who is now 16, stated that he had sex with her twice.

In his defense, Valas denied having sex with the girl and stated he was interviewing her for a research project on transnational gangs who were involved in sex trafficking. His attorney also pointed to an escort ad stating she was 19.

Other colleagues testified that he often spoke about the research project and his interaction with prostitutes; prosecutors countered that in 12 years, Valas never created a research project.

Two other men and a woman were convicted of sex trafficking earlier this year in connection with the case.

Valas will be sentenced next spring.

Read the full story on MySanAntonio.com.

Photo courtesy of IrishCentral.com.