District Attorney Pamela Price has charged 29-year-old Deondre Smith-King with the trafficking of a minor for commercial sex. Based on an official release by the Alameda County District Attorney's Office, the charges include one count of human trafficking of a minor and two counts of pimping a minor, all considered felonies. Smith-King was arrested following a police investigation that connected him to these crimes between August 17 and November 12.
As per the Alameda County District Attorney's Office, DA Price stated, "Disrupting human trafficking, specifically in the City of Oakland, has been a major focus during my tenure in the district attorney’s office." Attention is drawn to the gravity of the situation as Alameda County is labeled the nation’s third-largest hub for sex trafficking. 80% of the victims are African American juveniles, and many come from foster homes. This fact underscores the dire nature of this illicit trade.
Smith-King, who was apprehended in an area known as "The Blade," notorious for 24-hour sex trafficking activity, was found with the minor who had previously been reported missing by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. DA Price calls for continual efforts and partnership with Bay Area law enforcement to "successfully tackle the problem," as cited by the Alameda County District Attorney's Office.
The accused made a court appearance for a pre-trial hearing yesterday and remains in custody at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, with bail set at $355,000. If convicted of all charges, Smith-King faces up to 12 years in state prison.
