17 MEN CONVICTED OF LOITERING WITH THE INTENT TO COMMIT PROSTITUTION AND/OR AGREEING TO ENGAGE IN PROSTITUTION

17 MEN CONVICTED OF LOITERING WITH THE INTENT TO COMMIT PROSTITUTION AND/OR AGREEING TO ENGAGE IN PROSTITUTION

SANTA ANA – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) convicted 17 men in July 2014 of loitering with the intent to commit prostitution and/or agreeing to engage in prostitution. The defendants in these cases approached a woman, whom they believed to be a prostitute, in areas known for prostitution and human trafficking in Orange County or loitered in areas known for prostitution and human trafficking in Orange County. Some agreed to engage in commercial sex with a woman and were subsequently arrested by law enforcement.

The Santa Ana Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department investigated these cases. Deputy District Attorny Tina Patel of the HEAT Unit prosecuted these cases.

The defendants below each pleaded guilty to one or two misdemeanor counts each of loitering with the intent to commit prostitution or agreeing to engage in prostitution. The defendants were each sentenced up to three years informal probation, up to 20 days in jail with the possibility of CalTrans in lieu of jail, and must also submit to AIDS testing and education. Some defendants must also submit to DNA testing and were required to donate up to $250 to the Victim Witness Emergency Fund plus penalty assessments.

·      Juan Carachure Alvarez, 44, Anaheim

·      Victor Arreguin, 18, Santa Ana

·      Esteban Garcia Bernabe, 56, Santa Ana

·      Antonio Martinez Corona, 38, Tustin

·      Simon Estrada, 40, Pico Rivera