Columbia man pleads guilty to human trafficking, sentenced to 15 years

A Columbia man pleaded guilty to human trafficking charges Wednesday in Richland County General Sessions Court, according to Attorney Gen. Alan Wilson.

Wilson said 23-year-old Kristopher Block was sentenced to 15 years in prison after he was found guilty of criminal sexual conduct with a minor and human trafficking of a minor. Upon his release from prison, Block must register as a sex offender and undergo lifetime electronic monitoring.

On Dec. 4, 2014, Wilson said Block was located at a motel in Columbia with a minor victim. Block admitted Richland County sheriff’s deputies to taking photos of the victim and advertising her for sale on the Internet.

Wilson said Block’s case is the second human trafficking conviction under the state’s 2012 revised human trafficking law, and the third conviction overall, in the past three months.

This story was originally published January 14, 2016 at 7:15 PM with the headline "Columbia man pleads guilty to human trafficking, sentenced to 15 years."