ANAHEIM, Calif. – A convicted felon has been arrested by investigators with the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF) and a 14-year-old female victim was rescued, according to authorities.
Marcus Boyd, 36, a resident of Las Vegas, has been formally charged by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office for human trafficking a minor, pandering a minor, and other offenses, according to a press release by the Anaheim Police Department.
On Tuesday, OCHTTF investigators received information about a 14-year-old girl who was being exploited for purposes of commercialized sex. Later that day, investigators located the girl in the City of Anaheim and initiated an investigation into who was responsible for trafficking her.
Less than 12 hours after receiving the information about the victim, the OCHTTF and assisting agencies rescued the young female teen and located the suspect who was responsible for trafficking her.
Officers attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by the suspect, but the man failed to yield and led police on a short vehicle pursuit. During the chase, Boyd fled from the vehicle on foot and was later taken into custody, according to the Anaheim Police Department.
Investigators searched the vehicle Boyd was driving and located a firearm suppressor.
Boyd was booked at the Anaheim Police Department’s Detention Facility.
On Thursday, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office formally charged Boyd with Human Trafficking a Minor, Pandering a Minor Under 16 Years Old, Possession of a Silencer, Evading a Police Officer, as well as Resisting and Obstructing a Police Officer, according to information contained in the press release.
Anaheim police said Boyd is a convicted felon, but the department did not provide information regarding his prior criminal offenses. He remains in custody and is being held in lieu $1 million bail.
OCHTTF is co-chaired by the Anaheim Police Department and Waymakers. The lead agencies for the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force also include the California Highway Patrol, Irvine Police Department, Santa Ana Police Department, Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Orange County Probation Department, Orange County Social Services Agency, The Salvation Army, U.S. Attorney’s Office, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
