Two men charged with multiple offenses in connection with an investigation into human trafficking by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation appeared in Carter County General Sessions Court on Friday.

On Monday, Agents of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation arrested Robelio Flores Rivera, 26, and Adan Vasquez Rodriguez, 34, both of 1515 U.S. Highway 19E, on Monday. Agents charged Rivera with aggravated statutory rape, patronizing of prostitution of a minor, and solicitation of a minor. Agents charged Rodriguez with statutory rape, patronizing of prostitution of a minor, and solicitation of a minor.

Both Rivera and Rodriguez appeared in Carter County General Sessions Court on Tuesday, but their cases were reset until Friday to allow the court to bring in an interpreter.

On Friday, through the interpreter, Judge Keith Bowers Jr. spoke with both men regarding their need for an attorney. Bowers appointed the Pubilc Defender’s Office to represent Rivera and local attorney Cameron Hyder to represent Rodriguez.

Assistant District Attorney Mark Hill told Bowers he anticipated it would take the state two to three weeks to prepare for the preliminary hearing in the case since the prosecuting TBI agent is based out of Knoxville.

Bowers scheduled both Rivera and Rodriguez to return to court on May 2 in order to allow time for their attorneys to meet with them.

The charges against them two men stem from an investigation by the TBI’s Human Trafficking Unit.

According to the TBI, the investigation revealed that on April 22, Rivera and Rodriguez made contact with two females, ages 14 and 17, and offered them money in exchange for sex. Court documents allege that the sexual encounters took place and money was exchanged. According to the warrants, both alleged sexual encounters occurred at the Americourt Hotel in Elizabethton where both Rivera and Rodriguez were residing.