Judge Sentences Couple Convicted Of Prostituting Teen

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - A Ramsey County judge handed down stern words and stiff sentences for an Eden Prairie couple convicted of prostituting a 15-year-old girl in St. Paul.

After 26-year-old Johnathan B. Edwards told the court Friday he wasn't a pimp or pedophile, Judge Joy Bartscher chided him for not taking responsibility for his actions. Then she sentenced him to 20 years in prison.

Co-defendant Kauser Yusuf lamented that she'd just given birth to a daughter in custody, and said the only thing she's good at is being a mom. Bartcher then sentenced her to 7 1/2 years in prison.

The couple, who have four children together, were convicted of sex trafficking a minor.

Assault charges remain pending against Edwards. He lunged and spat at the prosecutor when the verdict was read in December.