Full Notification

On 5-5-13, Sonoma County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a hotel located at the south end of Santa Rosa for a dispute between two females and a taxi cab driver. The two females were refusing to pay the taxi driver for a fare. When the deputies arrived, they contacted the two females and male (Nathan Earl Lee, 45 years old out of Sacramento) inside one of the rooms in the hotel.

While the deputies were interviewing the two females and Lee, one of the females asked a deputy for help getting away from Lee. The female stated she was being physically assaulted, being held against her will, and being forced to work as a prostitute by Lee. One of the females had visible scars from what appeared to be physical abuse. The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Detectives responded and conducted further follow up. After further investigation, it appears Lee convinced one of the females to travel through California where he took her to different cities and forced her to work as prostitute. One female is from out of the state and the second female is from out of the county.

Both females were provided services by Verity and Crossing the Jordan Foundation.

Lee was arrested for 236 PC (False Imprisonment), 206 PC (Torture), 203 PC (Mayhem), 422 PC (Threaten Crime w/ Intent To Terrorize), 266 H(A) PC (Pimping), 266 I(A) (Pandering Person For Prostitution), 236.1 (A) PC (Human Trafficking). Lee is being held at the Sonoma County Jail on a 1.1 million dollar bail.

Any questions should be directed to Sonoma County Sheriff's Office Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Detective Sergeant Ruben Martinez (707) 565-8290.


Prepared by Sgt. Ruben Martinez
5/6/13 at 13:00 PM