BEAUMONT, Texas — A 38-year-old Beaumont man accused of continuously trafficking a teenage girl to perform sex acts at an area motel has been sentenced to 38 years in prison.
Shun Eric Simon was found guilty Thursday by a Jefferson County jury on a charge of continuous sexual abuse of a person, which is a felony charge.
The punishment phase of the trial begin at 1:15 p.m.
At 4 p.m., Simon was sentenced to 38 years.
Simon originally faced anywhere from 25 to 99 years or life in prison, with no probation. He previously rejected a plea agreement for 25 years.
Simon will also have to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.
The investigation that led up to the trial began after the National Trafficking Hotline sent a tip to the Beaumont Police Department on October 24, 2019 about sex trafficking in Beaumont involving a teenage girl, according to a probable cause affidavit.
After receiving the tip, police later gathered evidence about a phone that was used to facilitate the trafficking of the victim. The number tied to the phone belonged to Simon, according to the affidavit.
Police also collected evidence in the form of ads from a "known prostitution website."
Provocative pictures of the victim were found in the ads, and sexual services were offered on the site in exchange for money. The victim later identified herself as the person on the ads and said Simon took pictures of her and controlled the meet-ups with the “Johns,” according to the affidavit.
The victim stated she would give all the money to Simon after a sexual encounter.
Police believe Simon was posting ads for sexual services and communicating with "Johns" from September 12, 2019 through about October 22, 2019.
During the second day of trial on Wednesday, a Beaumont police detective was the first person to take the stand.
Det. Charles Duchamp testified about ads featuring the victim. Duchamp testified that some of the ads were posted by Simon, and some of the ads were posted by the victim herself.
Duchamp testified about a cell phone that was used to upload ads to the site and a search warrant that was obtained to search the phone.
He said evidence found on the phone verified that it was used to upload ads and that the phone belonged to Simon.
After the court returned from recess, Duchamp resumed testimony about text messages found on the defendant's phone.
He also explained the process some of the customers involved went through to set up meetings with the underaged girl.
On the first day of trial, testimony began shortly after 1 p.m. Prosecutor Kim Duchamp read the indictment and Judge Stevens asked Simon how he pleaded.
“Not guilty,” Simon said.
Duchamp began her opening statements by telling the jury they would hear from the victim’s mother. She told the jury the victim’s mom will testify about her daughter’s problems with the law, drug use and other problems throughout her teenage years.
The prosecutor said the victim may testify during the trial.
Duchamp told the jury they will hear about how the victim broke up with her boyfriend and began spending time with Simon. She said there was always chaos when Simon was around.
Duchamp said the victim’s mom got a call about her daughter being arrested and how her daughter may have been the victim of human trafficking.
The prosecutor said a detective will testify about the special training he has to investigate these kinds of cases and will walk the jury through the investigation, including how ads featuring the victim’s picture were found.
She said the detective will testify about a phone and what was retrieved from it. Duchamp said the findings includes text messages from “buyers” that use "very specific language used in trafficking."
Defense Attorney John West did not deliver opening statements.
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