An alleged Crips member suspected of trafficking a woman with intellectual and developmental disabilities could face trial after an El Paso County judge ruled there’s enough evidence to proceed at a preliminary hearing Thursday.

Tieson Craig, 48, was arrested in early July after investigators tied him to the pimping and sex trafficking of the 21-year-old woman. A trial is likely after Prosecutor Ruben Dufour told the defense they would not negotiate a plea deal if Craig went forward with his preliminary hearing.

There’s still a chance a trial doesn’t happen if Dufour changes his mind or if Craig pleads guilty to his charges of human trafficking, pimping, sexual assault and more.

The Gazette isn’t naming the woman in the case because of the allegations of sexual assault and human trafficking.

Split into two days, most of the hearing went over details in Craig’s arrest affidavit. Dressed in an orange El Paso County jail jumpsuit with shackles around his wrists, Craig was animated for parts of the hearings, showing signs of frustration and muttering to himself in the courtroom as witnesses went over the case.

The alleged sex trafficking started soon after the woman met Craig in April 2024. Meeting with four to five sex buyers and receiving drugs afterward would become a “daily occurrence” at a “vape shop” in southeast Colorado Springs, according to Craig’s arrest affidavit.

Attorneys questioned the woman’s mother, Catherin Moeller, who testified that her daughter is easily exploitable due to her disabilities.

She recalled several instances of people taking advantage of her daughter in the past. Moeller testified she had to file for guardianship, a month-long process that proved to be challenging, in July 2024 so she could take steps to protect her daughter.

A El Paso County judge ruled her daughter was “at-risk,” stating she had been financially exploited and that adults were putting her in harmful situations, according to Moeller’s testimony.

“She’s never had a true, meaningful friendship. When someone offers a friendship to her, she will go for it even though she doesn’t realize or recognize they might not be a safe individual,” Moeller said in her testimony.

Moeller told The Gazette her daughter doesn’t understand all of her rights, adding that she struggles with understanding social cues due to her autism.

Colorado Springs Police Detective Nate Buckner also testified, saying it was evident when interacting with her that the 21-year-old had developmental and intellectual disabilities.

As the lead investigator on the case, Buckner said it was “obvious” Craig took advantage of those disabilities and used it as a form of coercion to get the woman to sell herself to sex buyers. Another form of coercion was taking advantage of the woman’s drug dependency.

Buckner said he believed the woman was already using drugs before she met Craig, which he noted was “very common” for victims of trafficking. However, crack became the drug of choice after Craig allegedly introduced it to her and would give it to her if she met with “clients.”

Attorneys also questioned Buckner about a phone call he set up with Craig and the woman, where the detective says the two scheduled an appointment with a sex buyer as he listened in.

Buckner said the phone call demonstrates Craig’s awareness of the trafficking and his involvement in it.

Dufour also went over Facebook chat messages between Craig and the woman that showed them talking about setting up the woman with people at the “vape shop.” The prosecutor also brought up messages between Craig and a man about meeting a “white girl” who Craig knew would be “down” to have sex for money.”

During cross-examination, Defense Attorney Matthew Werner asked Buckner about three separate instances where Craig allegedly assaulted the woman.

Werner talked about Craig’s relationship with the woman, asking Buckner if parts of it were consensual. Buckner said the 21-year-old had told him some parts were, while also noting the instances of sexual assault.

“There’s a lot that goes into the unhealthy connection between a victim and a trafficker,” Buckner said. “A lot of it includes fear and manipulation.”

The hearing ended in arguments, with the defense telling Judge Frances Renae Johnson he did not believe there was enough evidence to convict Craig of his charges, which had been elevated to harsher punishments that include more prison time.

Dufour said the two testimonies were enough for “all of the elements” of the charges to have been met, and Johnson agreed.

Craig will appear in court again on Nov. 13 for an arraignment hearing.