Police have charged a man with living off the avails of prostitution after they say a then-17-year-old girl was forced into the sex trade in August 2013.

Police said girl was counseled and coerced into the sex trade by a man who befriended her. Police said the man used all the money the girl earned to support his own illegal activity.

Between May and August 2014, police said the girl was continually physically abused. The Counter Exploitation Unit began investigating and on Sept. 19 a suspect was arrested.

Walter Giovanni Bertone, 37, faces charges of living off the avails of prostitution, assault and uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm.