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A Milwaukee man accused of kidnapping a woman for nine days and forcing her to perform sex acts in Wausau and across the state was sentenced Friday to 17 years in prison.
A Marathon County jury found Derrick Thornton, 38, guilty Aug. 11 on charges of kidnapping, human trafficking, facilitating prostitution and solicitation of a prostitute after a three-day trial.
Marathon County Circuit Court Judge Jill Falstad told Thornton at his sentencing hearing that she found the nine days that he kept his victim captive was particularly aggravating. Falstad also sentenced Thornton to serve 13 years of extended supervision after his release from prison.
"(Thornton's) motivation is power, exploitation of others for his benefit and greed," Falstad said.
Thornton was arrested Oct. 24, 2010, during a traffic stop on Highway 51 in Rib Mountain, after police investigated a disturbance at the Days Inn in Wausau.
A then-22-year-old woman told police that Thornton forced her into a car Oct. 15, 2010, in Milwaukee, according to a criminal complaint. Thornton took pictures of the 22-year-old woman and another woman in their underwear and posted them on the website Backpage.com with a phone number, according to police.
The 22-year-old woman said Thornton took her to Eau Claire, Wausau and Green Bay, where he forced her to perform sex acts for money, and would beat her with a belt, according to the complaint.
"(Thornton) used the beatings for psychological degradation and power and control over her," Marathon County Assistant District Attorney Laura Kohl said.
The victim escaped from Thornton at the Wausau hotel and asked a clerk to call police.
Thornton has spent three previous stints in prison on robbery, theft and gun offenses. His attorney, James Connell, said Thornton's last felony conviction was 14 years ago and asked Falstad to sentence Thornton to no more than five years in prison. Prosecutors asked for 20 years.
Thornton maintained his innocence even as he was being sentenced.
"I am not a kidnapper. I'm not a pimp. I didn't force anyone to do anything," Thornton told Falstad. "This will be proven during my appeal."
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