Convicted pimp gets life sentence

A district judge slapped a 35-year-old convicted pimp with a life prison sentence Tuesday.

A jury in August convicted Ocean Fleming of 22 counts including kidnapping, pandering, living from earnings of a prostitute and battery. Fleming will be eligible for parole after more than 17 years in prison.

Before being sentenced, Fleming accused prosecutors and Las Vegas police detectives of manipulating evidence in the case, video of the sentencing hearing showed.

Fleming said that the case revolved around a domestic violence incident and that he was being overcharged. "It was never no first-degree kidnap or prostitute tryin' to escape from a pimp," he said.

Fleming said he would appeal the case and said his defense lawyer did not visit with him before the trial.

Prosecutor Elizabeth Mercer asked for the maximum sentence because the defendant had a 20-year history of run-ins with police, a federal felony drug conviction, a misdemeanor conviction and "the defendant quite frankly simply just deserves it."

Judge Michael Villani told Fleming he only had himself to blame. "Your arrogance is what got you in this mess. You preyed upon women with low self esteem. You manipulated them," the judge said.

Fleming was arrested in September 2011 after a woman who worked for him tried to escape from him in a southwest Las Vegas neighborhood. Fleming dragged her away. Prosecutors say Fleming used violence and fear to turn young women into prostitutes.

At least two women who authorities said worked for Fleming had to be arrested on material witness warrants to compel their testimony against Fleming at his trial.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.