South Sound News

Tacoma man sentenced for attempted sex trafficking of teen

SEATTLE — A repeat sex offender recently released to a halfway house from federal prison, was sentenced to 137 months in prison on Thursday for attempted sex trafficking of a juvenile and attempted enticement of a minor, according to a press release from the Department of Justice.

Prentice C. Hollingsworth of Tacoma, 45, was released to a halfway house in Tacoma in Dec. 2019.

Less than a month later, Hollingsworth began to communicate with an undercover Seattle police officer whom he had contacted via the Internet.

The undercover officer presented herself as a 15-year-old girl and Hollingsworth tried to recruit her to work for him as a prostitute.

According to police records, Hollingsworth discussed a fee he would charge the “juvenile” for his pimp services and the prices she should charge for various sex acts.

Hollingsworth also told the “juvenile” she could earn more money from sex buyers because of her age and suggested she leave school to devote more time to earning money as a prostitute.

A month later, Hollingsworth was arrested in Jan. 2020 at the halfway house after arranging for the “juvenile” to meet him at a hotel room in Fife.

Hollingsworth was indicted in Aug. 2020 and pleaded guilty in Dec. 2020.

Due to Hollingsworth’s prior convictions for rape, promoting prostitution and communicating with a minor for immoral purposes, he will be required to register as a sex offender and will be on lifetime supervised release after serving his prison term.