Plea hearing continued for Giles County man accused of human trafficking

Gary Gusler is also charged with abduction

ROANOKE, Va. – A Giles County man accused of human trafficking was due in court Wednesday morning.

Gary Karl Gusler, 54, of Newport, was arrested in May by the Giles County Sheriff's Office and charged with two felony counts of human trafficking and one misdemeanor count of abduction.

Gusler's plea hearing has been continued to October 4. 

Evidentiary facts released earlier during a bond hearing show that police are investigating numerous women who were allegedly victimized by Gusler, according to Commonwealth Attorney Bobby Lilly.

The Sheriff's Office began an investigation on January 17 into the larceny and forgery of checks taken from Gusler. While conducting that investigation, investigators say they were made aware of allegations that Gusler had a history of bonding females out of jail in exchange for sex and a history of soliciting prostitution.

Gusler is accused of bonding women out of the New River Valley Regional Jail in Pulaski and holding them in his Giles County home against their will.