Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, April 23, 1995                   TAG: 9504240059
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: FAIRFAX                                 LENGTH: Medium

CHILD, 7, WHO WAS SOLD FOR SEX GETS 10 YEARS SAFE FROM MOM

Fairfax County Circuit Judge Jane M. Roush sentenced Donna Jones, 29, of Washington, D.C., to a total of 20 years in prison on two child prostitution convictions. The judge suspended 10 years of the sentence and placed her on 10 years' probation ``so that we can maximize our control on your behavior.''

``I can think of nothing worse than selling your daughter for the purpose of prostitution,'' Roush told Jones. ``I frankly want to maximize the time you're away from your daughter, from society and drugs.''

Jones, who pleaded guilty in February to providing the two young girls to John Walling, 59, in exchange for money and crack cocaine, declined to speak during her hearing.

Roush sentenced Walling, of Springfield, to 25 years on prostitution and drug charges.

``Words really escape me to describe these crimes,'' the judge said in sentencing Walling. ``You were a user in the worst sense of the word.''

Walling received five years each on two cocaine convictions, 10 years on the child prostitution charge and five years for exposing himself to a child. The sentences are to run concurrently.

Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney James W. Hundley argued that Jones had sold her daughter for sex for ``paltry sums of money'' and asked that she receive a stiff penalty.

``She is not capable in any way of being a mother to her child,'' Hundley told the court before sentencing. ``The bottom line is this defendant was willing to sell her daughter and another 8-year-old girl for sex.''

Jones' lawyer said the woman's cocaine addiction greatly contributed to her actions.

``She would have sold her soul,'' Mitchell Mutnick said. ``She did sell her children. We can't deny that.''

Jones and Walling were arrested in November after they offered one of the young girls to an undercover Fairfax County police officer in exchange for $50. The girls are in foster homes and are undergoing counseling, authorities said.

In addition to the state convictions, Walling and Jones both were sentenced to more than 11 years in prison on federal convictions this month.