Transgender performer sentenced to 14 years for pimping teen

ATLANTA,None — A transgender performer will spend at least the next 14 years behind bars after pleading guilty to child exploitation Wednesday afternoon.

Christopher Lynch, known on stage as Pasha Nicole, could have spent life in prison for his role in what authorities called a human trafficking operation.

Channel 2's Tony Thomas was in court Wednesday, where Lynch broke down in tears.

"I don't even know where to begin. I've made a lot of mistakes in my life but this is by far the most utterly stupid one I've made," Lynch told the judge.

Lynch admitted he pimped and sexually exploited the teenage victim while living at a Douglasville house in 2010. Lynch could have spent life in prison if convicted of human trafficking, but negotiated the charges down to pimping.

"For the first time in a really long time, like four years, I'm thinking clearly because I don't have the drugs running through me and I'm so sorry. I feel really bad," Lynch said.

• Drag queen, go-go dancer charged with human trafficking

In court, prosecutors told the judge the 16-year-old victim was forced to have sex every day while being kept at the house.

"The defendant was manipulative. She said he was scary and that he was commanding. He withheld when he needed to withhold to make sure people did what he wanted them to do," prosecutor Rachel Ackley said.

Lynch had worked in Atlanta and had a large following in the transgender community. His roommate, Steve Lemery, also faces a several sex and trafficking-related charges, but has yet to go to trial.

Under the plea deal, Lynch will testify against Lemery.

"I was wrong. I was so wrong. That's all," Lynch said.

Prosecutors consider Lemery the big fish in this case. His trial is due to start later this year.

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WSBTV