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Man Arrested in Possible Human-Trafficking Case

Authorities say Edwards held a 22-year-old Polson woman against her will

By Molly Priddy

HELENA — The Montana attorney general’s office says a man has been arrested in an investigation into possible human trafficking.

Agency spokesman John Barnes says Terrance Tyrell Edwards was arrested Tuesday night in Billings. He is being held in the Yellowstone County jail without bond and faces a charge of promoting prostitution.

It was not immediately clear Wednesday whether Edwards has an attorney.

Lake County Sheriff Don Bell said in a statement that Edwards kidnapped a 22-year-old Polson woman and held her against her will for 11 days. He says authorities were able find and arrest Edwards after the woman called her mother from a cellphone.

Barnes says that based on interviews with the woman, it does not appear that she was abducted initially. But he says investigators are looking at her case as an instance of human trafficking, which involves holding a person under threat or duress.

In 2012, Edwards was given a five-year suspended sentence for forcing his girlfriend into prostitution.

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