SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was arraigned today for pimping, pandering, threatening to kill two women, and attempting to murder one of them at a motel in Anaheim. Deandre Henderson, 26, Tustin, is charged with one felony count of attempted murder, one felony count of assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, one felony count of first degree residential burglary of an inhabited dwelling, two felony counts of criminal threats, one felony count of pimping, and two felony counts of pandering. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in state prison. He is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on Oct. 26, 2016, at 8:30 a.m. in Department N-12, North Justice Center, Fullerton.

Circumstances of the Case

Henderson is accused of being a pimp who exploits women for financial gain. Pimps often establish rigid rules that their victims are expected to follow including requiring victims to speak only when spoken to, address the pimp as “Sir” or “Daddy,” and setting daily quotas that the victims are expected to fulfill. The victims are often required to turn over all payment they receive for sex acts from sex purchasers to their pimp. Failure to follow these rules can result in deprivation of food and/or physical and/or emotional abuse.

Between July 1, 2016, and July 17, 2016, Henderson is accused of pandering Jane Doe 1, who is originally from Washington, and pimping and pandering Jane Doe 2 in areas of Orange County known for human trafficking and commercial sex. The defendant is accused of keeping money Jane Doe 2 received from sex purchasers for his benefit. Both victims left the defendant in July.

Between Aug. 17, 2016, and Sept. 17, 2016, Henderson is accused of threatening to kill Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2.

On Sept. 17, 2016, at approximately 10:30 a.m., the defendant is accused of locating Jane Doe 1 at a motel in Anaheim. Henderson is accused of punching her, pulling her hair, and dragging her into the motel bathroom. Henderson is then accused of attempting to murder the victim by filling the bathtub with water and holding Jane Doe 1's face under the water until she began to lose consciousness. The victim sustained injuries as a result of the assault. Henderson is accused of burglarizing the motel room, taking Jane Doe 1's purse and cell phone prior to fleeing the scene.

A motel employee saw partially clothed Jane Doe 1 running through the parking lot and called 911. The defendant is accused of fleeing the scene prior to the arrival of members of the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF).

On Sept. 22, 2016, members of the OCHTTF, who investigated this case, arrested the defendant at his residence in Tustin.

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, Costa Mesa Police Department, 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 Brad Schoenleben of the HEAT Unit is prosecuting 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.

*Investigation began with a 911 call that a half-naked woman was running through a motel parking lot in Anaheim

Orange County District Attorney / Case # 16NF2624 / September 26, 2016