Kidnapper's sentencing delayed

2/28/2006

DETROIT - A sentencing hearing in federal court for Clarence Howard Brown, convicted of kidnapping an Adrian girl and forcing her into prostitution, has been delayed until March 13.

Brown's defense attorney, Norman Robiner, asked for a postponement yesterday. He did not explain the reasons for the requested delay, nor did he return Blade calls seeking comment.

The request was granted by U.S. District Court Judge Arthur J. Tarnow in Detroit. Brown, 33, formerly of Toledo, faces a possible life sentence for the teenager's ordeal in which she was beaten, raped, and forced to prostitute herself at a truck stop in Indiana.

In November, 2001, the girl left Adrian to go to Toledo with a 19-year-old man, believing they were going to celebrate her upcoming 14th birthday.

She lied to her grandmother, who didn't know her granddaughter had a boyfriend, telling her that she was leaving to visit friends.

The girl was introduced to Brown and a 22-year-old hooker, Holly Hollis, then - following a fight with the girl - her 19-year-old boyfriend abandoned her with Brown and Hollis.

Brown and Hollis kidnapped the girl, telling her she was in "whore training." Brown beat and raped the girl at an Indiana motel and forced her to sell sex to truck drivers in the area.

Eventually, the teenager sought refuge with a female truck driver, who helped her escape.

Hollis was found guilty of sex trafficking and sentenced to 46 months in prison last year.

Brown was convicted of kidnapping and sex trafficking.

The victim and her grandmother drove from Adrian to Detroit yesterday for the hearing before being told it was canceled.