The Youngstown man convicted of using two of his young family members in a human trafficking scheme was sentenced Friday morning.
David Kalna was sentenced to 30 years in prison, the maximum for his crime.
Mahoning County Judge Scott Krichbaum wasn't mincing words when Kalna, who kept insisting he was innocent, stood before him for sentencing.
"I can't imagine anything more egregious, more disgusting, more revolting," Krichbaum said.
Kalna was charged with selling two young relatives for sex to get money to buy drugs.
Both of his victims testified against him.
One of the victims was 12 years old when investigators say the crimes began.
On Wednesday, a
jury found him guilty on two counts of trafficking and one count of compelling prostitution.
"I know I'm not guilty," Kalna said in court. "I know that deep down in my heart, I know that."
But during the trial, prosecutors played recorded jailhouse phone calls between Kalna and one of the victims and her siblings, telling them what to say when called to testify.
"I've never seen anything like you before," Krichbaum said.
Prosecutors said the girl was not only raped by the man she was sold to, but she was then criticized by her own family when she came forward.
"She was ashamed. She was dividing the family with her disclosure, ultimately, and she had to deal with the feelings and being ostracized by the rest of the family," Atty. Jennifer McLaughlin said.