San Francisco's efforts to combat human trafficking took a significant leap forward as District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced the arraignment of Jaquain Burton, 30, on charges related to the trafficking of a minor. Burton, facing two counts of human trafficking of a minor and one count of pandering by encouraging a minor, entered a plea of not guilty during his court appearance on Tuesday, according to a statement from the District Attorney's office.
Court documents suggest that Burton allegedly attempted to recruit a minor into sex work, and set plans in motion to pick up the minor on January 8, instructing the child to maintain the secrecy of their arrangement. Given Burton’s prior felony convictions in 2018, and 2016, the prosecution has sought his detainment without bail, deeming him a public safety risk, the District Attorney's office explains. Consequently, the court has decreed that no bail be set.
The San Francisco Police Department urges anyone with information to contact their Tip Line at 1-415-575-4444, or to send a text starting with SFPD to TIP411. They stressed that tipsters may remain anonymous. The emphasis on gathering further information suggests that this remains an active investigation.
Moving forward, Burton is expected to return to court for his preliminary hearing on January 27. Meanwhile the task of investigating and prosecuting this case, falls on the shoulders of the newly established San Francisco Human Trafficking Task Force (SF HTTF). This multi-agency initiative partners local, state, and federal law enforcement with victim service providers, focusing on labor trafficking, commercial sex trafficking and the sexual exploitation of children.
The SF HTTF operates on a model geared towards aggressive disruption of trafficking networks, holding traffickers accountable while simultaneously ensuring comprehensive support for survivors.
