By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – A 39-year-old Birmingham man is being held in the Shelby County Jail on bonds totaling $531,000 after he allegedly required a woman to prostitute herself in exchange for “drugs, money and shelter.”

The Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force arrested Kelandus Tarvares Consenta, who lists an address in the 800 block of 12^th Avenue South in Birmingham, on Aug. 17 and charged him with felony counts of second-degree human trafficking and trafficking heroin and one misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to Consenta’s arrest warrant, he allegedly “knowingly benefited financially or by receiving anything of value from participating in a venture of engagement for the purpose of sexual or labor servitude.”

The human trafficking warrant listed an Aug. 17 offense date, and said Consenta allegedly “Required (the victim) to prostitute herself,” and said Consenta allegedly “Takes the money earned (and) provides drugs, money and shelter” to the victim.

Consenta’s trafficking heroin charge came when he allegedly had 5.1 grams of the drug while at the intersection of Cahaba Park Circle and U.S. 280 on Aug. 17.

When he was arrested, he allegedly had syringes used to inject “a controlled substance,” according to his arrest warrant.

Trafficking heroin is a Class A felony, punishable by up to life in prison upon conviction. Second-degree human trafficking is a Class B felony, punishable by up to 20 years in prison upon conviction.

As of Aug. 19, Consenta did not have a preliminary hearing court date listed in Shelby County District Court records.