SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was sentenced to three years in state prison today for pimping and pandering two women he drove from Fresno to Orange County to solicit commercial sex. Kurtis Chappell, 23, Fresno, pleaded guilty to two felony counts of pimping, two felony counts of pandering by procuring, and one misdemeanor count of driving a motor vehicle without a license.

Circumstances of the Case

Chappell is a human trafficker/pimp who exploits women for financial gain. Victims are often required to turn over all payment they receive for sex acts from sex purchasers to their pimp.

Prior to July 26, 2016, Chappell traveled with Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 from Fresno to Costa Mesa with the intent of having the victims engage in commercial sex for his benefit. Chappell transported the victims to areas known for prostitution and human trafficking in Orange County. Chappell kept money the victims received from sex purchasers for himself.

On July 26, 2016, Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) officers arranged to meet with Jane Doe 1 at a motel on Harbor Boulevard in Costa Mesa. When CMPD contacted Jane Doe 1, they located Jane Doe 2 in the same motel room. Chappell waited in a vehicle outside of the motel room and walked to the victim's room when he believed the sex purchaser had exited the room. At the time of his arrest, the defendant had large quantities of condoms in his vehicle that matched those in the victims' motel room, and text messages containing language consistent with pimping the victims.

Chappell was arrested at the motel by CMPD.

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 CMPD and the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (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 Bryan Clavecilla of the HEAT Unit prosecuted this case.

Orange County District Attorney / Case # 16WF1638 / August 9, 2016