June 29, 2017
Case # 17CF0540
FELON CONVICTED OF PIMPING AND PANDERING WOMAN WHILE OUT ON BAIL
SANTA ANA, Calif. – A felon was convicted yesterday of pimping and pandering a woman while out of custody on bail for another pimping-related crime.
|
Defendant |
Charges |
Maximum Sentence |
Court Date |
|
Rico Christopher Clayton, 30, Carson |
Pleaded guilty yesterday to felony counts of:
Sentencing Enhancements
|
14 years in state prison |
Sentencing Aug. 25, 2017, 9:00 a.m. Department C-28, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana |
Circumstances of the Case
- At the time of the crime, Clayton was out of custody on bail for another pimping-related case in Los Angeles County from March 2016.
- Prior to Feb. 8, 2017, the defendant recruited the victim, Jane Doe, to engage in commercial sex for his benefit in areas known for prostitution in Orange County.
- Clayton posted sexually explicit advertisements of the victim on websites known for soliciting commercial sex.
- The defendant kept the money Jane Doe received from sex purchasers for himself.
- On Feb. 8, 2017, members of the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF) contacted Jane Doe through an advertisement that was posted on a website known for prostitution and arranged to meet with the victim.
- Clayton dropped the victim off at a motel in Fullerton in order to meet with the undercover officer.
- Clayton was identified by OCHTTF and subsequently charged by Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) while in-custody in Los Angeles after having been convicted of attempted-pimping and felony criminal threats.
Members of the OCHTTF and the OCDA work proactively to protect women and minors from falling victim to commercial sexual exploitation. This case was investigated by OCHTTF, a partnership between Anaheim Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Costa Mesa Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Irvine Police Department, Newport Beach Police Department, OCDA, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Santa Ana Police Department, and community and non-profit partners.
Deputy District Attorney Kelly Manley of the HEAT Unit is prosecuting this case.
Proposition 35 and HEAT
To read more about California’s anti-human trafficking Proposition 35 and the OCDA’s Human Exploitation and Trafficking (HEAT) Unit, please visit www.orangecountyda.org and select Human Trafficking Information from the Media Center drop down menu.