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CRIME Man faces sex trafficking, promoting prostitution charges Virgil Don Rucker also faces rape charges Comment By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted Feb. 23, 2016 at 5:15 PM Updated Feb 23, 2016 at 5:35 PM By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted Feb. 23, 2016 at 5:15 PM Updated Feb 23, 2016 at 5:35 PM » Social News A California man faces multiple felony counts of sex trafficking, prostitution and rape in Jackson County. According to Medford police, a California woman in her early 20s told investigators that Virgil Don Rucker, 40, of Tracy, Calif., brought her to the Medford area and used force and intimidation to force her to participate in prostitution. The alleged crimes occurred in various motels in the Medford area between February and August 2014. Rucker has been lodged in the Jackson County Jail since July 22 on unrelated charges that he sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl at a Medford motel in the 900 block of Alba Drive. A police press release said the teen victim wasn't believed to be involved in sex trafficking and didn't know Rucker prior to the attack. He faces two felony counts of first-degree rape, a count of third-degree rape and a misdemeanor charge of third-degree sexual abuse in the incident. At a Tuesday arraignment in Jackson County Circuit Court, Rucker entered not guilty pleas to felony charges of trafficking in persons, compelling prostitution and promoting prostitution. Rucker appeared in court from the Jackson County Jail using the court's video-conferencing system. After entering his pleas, he requested a court-appointed defense attorney and expressed frustration to Circuit Court Judge David Hoppe because three court-appointed lawyers have withdrawn from his rape case, and he has been held in the jail for more than six months. "I've been given the runaround," Rucker said. "I've just been sitting here and sitting here." Court documents show court-appointed lawyer Donald Scales withdrew Oct. 9 due to an "irreparable breakdown" in the attorney-client relationship. On Oct. 26, a lawyer from Southern Oregon Public Defender, Inc. withdrew citing a conflict of interest because the firm also represented the juvenile victim. His current court-appointed lawyer, Mark Hendershott, requested to withdraw as attorney Monday at Rucker's request, but the motion was denied. Hoppe appointed another law firm to handle his cases Tuesday. Deputy District Attorney Marco Boccato said Rucker's lack of ties to Southern Oregon and the severity of the crimes were compelling reasons to keep Rucker's bail higher than $1 million. Trafficking in persons is a Class A felony with a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Hoppe set bail at $2 million on the trafficking charges. Rucker's bail on the rape charges is $500,000. A March 1 trial date is set for the rape case. Reach reporter Nick Morgan at 541-776-4471 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @MTCrimeBeat. By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted Feb. 23, 2016 at 5:15 PM Updated Feb 23, 2016 at 5:35 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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