SANTA ANA, Calif. – A Los Angeles man was sentenced to four years in state prison today for pimping and pandering a woman in Stanton and Anaheim. Carlos Andrew Morehead, 27, pleaded guilty today to one felony count of pimping and one felony count of pandering by procuring.                                                                                                            

Circumstances of the Case

Morehead is a pimp who exploits women for financial gain. Pimps often establish rigid rules that their victims are expected to follow including address the pimp as “Sir” or “Daddy.” The victims are often required to turn over payment they receive for sex acts from sex purchasers to their pimp.

Between Aug. 7, 2016, and Aug. 20, 2016, Morehead posted sexually explicit advertisements of Jane Doe soliciting commercial sex and used the money she received from the sex purchasers for his benefit. The defendant brought Jane Doe to areas known for prostitution in Orange County and arranged for her to solicit and engage in commercial sex.

On Aug. 19, 2016, members of the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF) contacted Jane Doe on Beach Boulevard in Stanton. Officers discovered text messages on Jane Doe's phone from “Poppa,” later identified as Morehead, containing language consistent with him pimping the victim from a nearby hotel.

Officers located Morehead at a hotel in Anaheim. The defendant had a condom in his possession that matched those found in Jane Doe's possession and in the hotel room. Morehead was arrested by OCHTTF at the scene.

Members of the OCHTTF and the Orange County District Attorney's (OCDA) Office 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, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Huntington Beach Police Department, Irvine Police Department, OCDA, Orange County Sheriff's Department, Santa Ana Police Department, and community and non-profit partners.

Deputy District Attorney Juliet Oliver of the HEAT Unit prosecuted this case.

Proposition 35 and HEAT

To read more about California's anti-human trafficking Proposition 35 (Prop 35) and the OCDA's Human Exploitation and Trafficking (HEAT) Unit, please visitwww.orangecountyda.organd select Human Trafficking Information from the Media Center drop down menu.

Orange County District Attorney / Case # 16NF2341 / September 7, 2016