Inglewood man convicted in human trafficking and rape of 11-year-old

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- An Inglewood man was found guilty last week of human trafficking and rape of an 11-year-old girl, three years after his arrest. He will be sentenced at a later date, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Robert Spells had been charged with human trafficking of a minor, sexual assault of a minor and rape. Spells had previously been arrested for the 2014 murder of Deshawnda Sanchez, a 21-year-old transgender woman. At the time of his arrest for homicide, Spells was a suspect in the human trafficking investigation of the 11-year-old minor.

Los Angeles police interviewed the minor in February of 2015 after she was found in the South L.A. area, near 104th Street and Figueroa.

According to the news release, the victim was described as having the "mental capacity of an 8-year-old." The minor said she was the victim of sexual exploitation by Spells, who would hit and rape the victim, purchase her clothes and arrange paid sexual encounters for her through social media.

Tips and information regarding Spells can be left with the LAPD's Operations South Bureau Human Trafficking Task Force at 213-202-4390.