Agreed on all points...punish him without regrets, IF he did it. He does have a rep for being a POS.
BUT: Pimps and hookers are opportunists and some things here don't add up. LT is a well-known, easy target. And I'm sure he didnt ask her age. The girl lacks credibility. She ran away and ended up with a Pimp. This is likely not a coincidence. Her SINGLE point of compassion from a jury will be her age.
I'd bet that LT's atty is gonna take this approach: The sex was consensual and the girl took the opportunity to frame LT. Also, she was allowed to have a cell phone. Not a freedom usually allowed to a hostage. She could have called the cops or her family directly at any time, even from the pimp's house in the middle of the night. If they can find a dozen other guys who had sex with her and a few girls that worked with her on the street BEFORE she was with that pimp, the case will end abruptly.
Rapists are the worst kind of scum and IMO deserve capital punishment. So we'd have to be sure before labeling someone as one.