SAN ANTONIO – Prosecutors got right to the point as the sex trafficking and compelling prostitution trial of Frank Lara, 46, got underway Tuesday afternoon.
"Frank is in the business of making money off of kids," prosecutor Ryan Wright told the jury during his opening statement.
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He said that while he was in his mother's home on house arrest in a non-related case, Lara was using the internet to offer two girls -- ages 13 and -- for sex.
Wright promised the jury that they would see Lara's internet ads as the prosecution's case unfolded.
"On those BackPage ads, you will see that Frank Lara's name is on it," Wright said. "He was the one that paid for it. His address is on there."
The ads were discovered by police after they arrested one of the girls on prostitution charges.
She and another girl said that Lara was making money acting as their "pimp."
Lara was arrested in a subsequent police sting operation.
"There's no evidence of Frank committing sex trafficking or compelling prostitution," his lawyer told the jury during his portion of opening arguments.
If he is convicted, Lara is facing a maximum sentence of life in prison.
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