Decorah man sentenced to a total of 60 years in prison

41-year-old Ellis Smith, Junior of Decorah has been sentenced to a total of 60 years in prison on four separate criminal charges.

Smith was arrested one year ago—August 3rd, 2009—on charges of Possession with Intent to Deliver Marijuana and Violation of the Drug Excise Tax, both Class D felonies.

But Winneshiek County Sheriff's Deputies say as their investigation continued, they talked with a 17-year-old female who claimed she had been physically and sexually assaulted.  Police then filed charges against Smith of First Degree Kidnapping, Second Degree Sexual Abuse and of Human Trafficking.  The First Degree Kidnapping charge was dropped in exchange for Smith's guilty plea to the charges of Human Trafficking and of Second Degree Sexual Abuse.

Last Tuesday, August 10th, Smith was sentenced to 25 years for Second Degree Sexual Assault, 25 years for Human Trafficking, 5 years for Possession of a Controlled Substance and 5 years for Violation of a Drug Excise Tax.  Smith was taken to the Oakdale Penitentiary on Wednesday to begin serving his prison sentence.