For release on February 25, 2015 CONTACT:
Carlos Vega, Deputy District Attorney
Sexual Assault Unit
(408) 792-2754 MAN CHARGED WITH HUMAN TRAFFICKING OF RUNAWAY TEENAGER
A 32-year-old Oakland man was charged Wednesday with the human trafficking of a teenage girl who he had picked up from a bible study and exploited as a sex worker out of a Sunnyvale motel. Patrick Leo Simmons faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the felony charge and five other related charges. He is being held on $1 million bail. The next court date is Friday, February 27, 2015 in Department 85 in Palo Alto. “Teenagers who run away from home are in danger of becoming victims of sexual exploitation. These pimps are predators,” prosecutor Carlos Vega said. “The Santa Clara County Human Trafficking Task Force was instrumental in securing the rescue of the victim and the arrest of the defendant.”
Earlier this week, agents from the Human Trafficking Task Force got a tip from the San Jose Police Department that the victim – who was identified as a runaway – was being advertised for sex on Backpage.com – a website frequently used to post ads for prostitution.
Agents arranged for a “date” with the victim and recovered her from the hotel room. The suspect was arrested on foot nearby. He had $6,510 in cash and a key to the victim’s hotel room.
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Carlos Vega, Deputy District Attorney
Sexual Assault Unit
(408) 792-2754 MAN CHARGED WITH HUMAN TRAFFICKING OF RUNAWAY TEENAGER
A 32-year-old Oakland man was charged Wednesday with the human trafficking of a teenage girl who he had picked up from a bible study and exploited as a sex worker out of a Sunnyvale motel. Patrick Leo Simmons faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the felony charge and five other related charges. He is being held on $1 million bail. The next court date is Friday, February 27, 2015 in Department 85 in Palo Alto. “Teenagers who run away from home are in danger of becoming victims of sexual exploitation. These pimps are predators,” prosecutor Carlos Vega said. “The Santa Clara County Human Trafficking Task Force was instrumental in securing the rescue of the victim and the arrest of the defendant.” Earlier this week, agents from the Human Trafficking Task Force got a tip from the San Jose Police Department that the victim – who was identified as a runaway – was being advertised for sex on Backpage.com – a website frequently used to post ads for prostitution.
Agents arranged for a “date” with the victim and recovered her from the hotel room. The suspect was arrested on foot nearby. He had $6,510 in cash and a key to the victim’s hotel room.
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