News Channel 5: Man Convicted Under Enhanced Human Trafficking Laws Gets 22 Years

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The first person ever to be charged and convicted in Davidson County under Tennessee’s enhanced human sex trafficking laws has been sentenced to 22 years in prison.

Michael Kohlmeyer was sentenced Thursday inside a Davidson County courtroom. This was the first case of a sex trafficking buyer being charged and convicted in the State of Tennessee.

Kohlmeyer was found guilty in October after he contacted a website asking for a minor prostitute. The Trenton-native was convicted of offering to pay $5,000 for sex with a 12-year-old girl.

He was facing anywhere from 15 to 60 years in prison.

During the hearing, the state wanted Judge Mark Fishburn to make an example of Kohlmeyer and give him the maximum sentence.

"I think now that we have a case that we can follow and we've got some parameters set up the investigations are going to be taken more seriously and I believe by putting it out in the news people are going to recognize it and call in about it, and I believe we're going to have more victims reported for us to start to help," said Assistant District Attorney Antoinette Welch.

Kohlmeyer also took the stand during the hearing and said he had no plans to ever make physical contact with a prostitute.

"I never really wanted to buy the child. I wanted pictures, I admit that. That's as far as I was willing to go with any of this," Kohlmeyer said.

His sentence will run consecutively with a sentence from a conviction in Humphreys County.

At the same time, those with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation have been tackling the problem of human trafficking with the help of a newly passed bill. 

Caitlin Reed