Hickory man charged after missing NC girl found in prostitution sting

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Authorities in Tennessee say they found a missing North Carolina girl while conducting a prostitution sting.

Citing court records, news outlets report that the underage girl, who was reported missing from Asheville, North Carolina, was found Tuesday in a car parked outside of a Knoxville hotel.

The Knox County Sheriff's Office says the vehicle belonged to 27-year-old Timothy King, of Hickory, North Carolina, who was arrested on two felony counts of trafficking of sexual servitude.

Two 20-year-old women who were arrested on prostitution charges told investigators that King was their pimp. It's not known whether King has an attorney.

Authorities say the girl was taken to a juvenile detention center to be reunited with her family. It's unclear how old the girl is or how long she had been missing.