PRESS RELEASE: ARRESTS FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING OF A MINOR, PROSTITUTION, AND NARCOTICS
In September of 2013, a prostitution interdiction operation was conducted in the cities of Arroyo Grande, Pismo Beach, and San Luis Obispo in response to violent crimes against women, drug sales, and trafficking of stolen property. This operation successfully impacted the prostitution industry and the crimes associated with it that were targeted in the operation.
As a follow-up to that operation and in an effort to insure that these crimes remain suppressed, the San Luis Obispo Police Department’s Special Enforcement Team and Detective Bureau conducted a one night operation at a motel in San Luis Obispo.
The intent of this operation was three-fold:
1) Arrest prostitutes in an effort to discourage them and others from providing their illegal services in our cities.
2) Arrest customers, or “Johns”, in an effort to discourage them and future customers from soliciting the services of prostitutes.
3) This operation was intended to be made public at its conclusion in an effort to bring to the public’s attention the hazards of soliciting a prostitute or performing the services of prostitution. A total of nine arrests were made during the operation for various charges.
20 YEAR OLD DOUGLAS JAMES STEPHENS, SLO
16 YEAR OLD JUVENILE FEMALE, SLO
22 YEAR OLD DEPECHE RONNELLE LEWALLEN, SLO
52 YEAR OLD DAVID JAY KING, OCEANO
26 YEAR OLD TYESHIA ANTIONETTE ORR, SACRAMENTO
23 YEAR OLD MELISSA MONIA AMEY, MADERA
25 YEAR OLD SHUANTE SUZETTE MADDEN, FRESNO
41 YEAR OLD CRESCENSIO HERNANDEZ-VILLAR, SLO
32 YEAR OLD HARRY ENDON CHOATE, PASO ROBLES
Douglas J. Stephens was arrested for PC 236.1(c) -Felony Human Trafficking of a 16 year old female, and PC 266h(b)(1)- Pimping a Minor (16 year old female). Additionally, Stephens had an arrest warrant from Sacramento County. Bail was set at $45,000
The 16 year old female, who will remain unidentified due to her status as a juvenile, was also arrested for violations of PC 647(b)- Prostitution and PC 148(a)(1)- Resisting Arrest. When the juvenile was being placed under arrest, she fled on foot and directly to the vehicle Stephens was in to alert him that Law Enforcement was present. Once alerting him, she continued to flee and was captured about 30 minutes later. As Douglas was preparing to drive away, officers successfully detained and arrested him. After the juvenile was captured, it was determined she had a felony no-bail warrant out of Sacramento County. She was later booked at the Juvenile Services Center. This arrest serves as a prime example of why we conduct these operations.
The San Luis Obispo Police Department recognizes that minors are often used by adults as prostitutes in order to exploit them for financial gain, purchase illegal drugs, and other illegal activity. Our department has experienced scenarios like this in the past and will continue to conduct operations like this in the future to discourage this activity.
Address/Location
San Luis Obispo Police Department
1042 Walnut Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 805-781-7337
Sergeant Kurt Hixenbaugh
Police
[email protected]
805-594-8036