Police say Dawkins, 25, had a felony warrant for a probation violation from California when he came to Mesa, and began pimping women out of an apartment on the 1900 block of North Country Club Drive.
During an undercover prostitution sting, Phoenix police say Kimberly Neeley, known as "Faith" in the adult section of backpage.com (full disclosure: backpage.com is owned by Village Voice Media, which is the parent company of New Times), agreed to have sex with a police detective for $160.
Neeley wasn't arrested, but did led police to the Mesa apartment where Dawkins was staying, leading to his arrest.
After his arrest, Neeley told police Dawkins had beaten her in the past and that she eventually moved to San Francisco to get away from him. Once in San Francisco, she complained FBI agents about Dawkins.
Just before Thanksgiving, Neeley returned to Arizona to pay some fines. While in the Valley, Neeley went to Dawkins' apartment, police say, which is where the violence ensued.
Police say Dawkins accused Neeley of working for another pimp. He then hit her with his pistol and choked her with a spiked belt until she nearly passed out. The beating culminated with Dawkins grabbing a different gun, putting it to her chest, and saying he would take her life and throw her body in a dumpster, according to police.
The five felony charges awaiting Dawkins include kidnapping, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a weapon by a prohibited person, and two prostitution-related charges, in addition to his impending extradition to California.
