Taunton man sent to prison for sex trafficking RI woman with disabilities

Peterson Raymond was sentenced to 7-10 years in prison after he was convicted of sex trafficking a 20-year-old Rhode Island woman with disabilities.

His sister Johanne had an outburst in court when he was led out of the courtroom – she was also charged in the case, but took a plea deal and served three years.

Raymond, 34, met the victim online in 2014 and convinced her they were in a relationship. She moved in, and over the span of two months, he drugged her, abused her, and sold her for sex on Backpage.com.

In March 2014, Raymond beat her, and she tried to run away. Police showed up, taking her to the hospital. That sparked the investigation. Prosecutors used text messages to back their claim that he was also pimping out other women.

The victim, remaining anonymous, spoke out in court saying she hasn’t been able to move on from the humiliation and anger, and uses drugs and alcohol to cope.

District Attorney Tom Quinn credits a 2011 sexual servitude law for helping prosecutors put Raymond behind bars.

“This seems to be a crime that is becoming more prominent, and the penalties have to reflect that, as opposed to something as a misdemeanor or even a felony up to five years,” he says.

©WLNE-TV 2019