Fargo man charged with sex trafficking in Bemidji

BEMIDJI -- A Fargo man is in the Beltrami County Jail facing sex trafficking charges after his arrest in late July.
A hearing was held Monday in Beltrami County District Court for Kyaree Baron Stone.
Stone, 25, was arrested July 23 after a Bemidji police investigator was alerted to an advertisement for a female escort in the Bemidji area the previous day, according to court documents. Stone was identified as the man who drives the escort to her “dates.”
Stone is charged with felony promoting prostitution of an individual. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison and a $40,000 fine.
During the investigation, local law enforcement responded to an ad that a female escort was available in the Bemidji area, which was accepted.
The recipient informed the investigator, “it’s $200 for hh hun” and a “date” was arranged at a Bemidji hotel, court documents said. Law enforcement officers arrived at the hotel on July 23 and met with the female escort, identified only as K.S.; once money was exchanged, law enforcement entered the room.
According to court documents, the escort informed law enforcement she has been exchanging sex for money. She said she has had four “dates” while in the Bemidji area and that she travels around Minnesota and the Fargo area. The escort said Stone drives her and provides protection for which she is required to pay him $50 for each date.
Officers located Stone in the escort’s vehicle parked outside the hotel, documents said. Stone told law enforcement he was the escort’s boyfriend and was only there to provide protection while she “danced” for another male party. In a Mirandized statement, Stone admitted to law enforcement he knows the escort does not have another job and he asks her to buy him things and give him money. He said he drove the escort to Bemidji from Fargo. Documents did not say where the escort, K.S., lives, only that she is not from Bemidji. K.S. has not been charged in the case at this time, according to court documents.
Stone is currently being held in the Beltrami County Jail on a $50,000 conditional bond. His next court appearance is set for Monday.