A 23-year-old woman with a 3-year-old son moved in with a St. Paul man she met on Facebook recently, and within a short time, he was prostituting her, charges say.

For about a week, the woman met with "johns" for sex in deals arranged earlier this month by Rashad Ramon Ivy, 34, who allegedly used "her small child as hostage to compel cooperation," according to a Ramsey County District Court complaint filed Tuesday.

Ivy was arrested Saturday after allegedly beating the woman and dropping her off that same day at United Hospital with directions to tell hospital staff members that she had been in a car accident and that her pain was a "25" on a 1-to-10 scale.

That way, he's alleged to have said, "she could be sure to get medications," the charges say.

Instead, the woman reported that Ivy assaulted her, resulting in him being charged with second-degree sex-trafficking and domestic assault by strangulation.

When interviewed by police, Ivy denied being involved in prostitution and suggested that the woman had been injured in an earlier fight with Ivy's girlfriend, a 19-year-old whom authorities say often drove the victim to the "dates" arranged by Ivy.

The charges say that the victim engaged in multiple "out-calls" in Ramsey, Hennepin and Carver counties, and that she was not allowed to return to the Jackson Street apartment that she and her son shared with Ivy until she made at least $1,000.

Ivy made his first appearance on the charges on Tuesday, and is being held in jail in lieu of $75,000 bail.

His next appearance is set for July 7.

Anthony Lonetree • 651-925-5036