Authorities in Orange County have apprehended a Las Vegas man on suspicion of human trafficking, following the recovery of a 16-year-old girl previously held against her will. The arrest was a result of a swift response by the Anaheim Police to a distress call at a local motel. According to Anaheim Police Department, the suspect, 46-year-old Donald Newton, faces multiple charges including pimping a minor, pandering with a minor, and human trafficking of a minor.
On the evening of May 30, 2025, officers responded to reports of a girl being held captive at a motel on S. Beach Blvd. Two hours into the investigation, Anaheim PD Investigators located and arrested Newton in the City of Stanton. As part of their investigation, detectives also conducted a search warrant at a motel room where they recovered a loaded firearm. This operation is a testament to the continued efforts of the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF) and its partnering agencies to combat cases of pimping and trafficking, which often hide in the shadows of society's corners.
Additional charges have been filed against Newton, which now include possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of ammunition by a prohibited person, and three counts of personal use of a firearm in a felony. He is currently being held on a $500,000 bond. Prosecutors from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office HEAT (Human Exploitation and Trafficking) Unit have taken the lead in bringing charges against Newton, detailed in a report from the city's announcement.
The OCHTTF along with the OCDA’s HEAT Unit prioritize the identification and prosecution of individuals engaged in human exploitation. Their multi-pronged tactic, known as PERP, encompasses Prosecution, Education, Resources, and Publicity, aiming to bring justice to victims and to provide education and resources to those impacted by such crimes. The unit's approach serves as a deterrent message to traffickers, emphasizing the severity of the consequences for these offenses. For those in need of assistance or reporting a case of human trafficking, the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline is reachable at (888) 373-7888, or contact can be made with local law enforcement.
