A 22-year-old man is behind bars after Beaverton police say he brought a 17-year-old runaway from another state into the city to be prostituted. Authorities report the teenager is now safe and in the custody of law enforcement, while the suspect faces criminal charges.
Ohygee Dion Paynes, 22, of Rio Vista, California, was taken into custody by Beaverton officers at about 1:30 p.m. on Thursday and booked into the Washington County Jail, as reported by KATU. Detectives allege Paynes transported the 17-year-old across state lines to meet with an undercover investigator for commercial sex, according to the station. Investigators have not released additional details while the case remains under active investigation.
What a 'compelling prostitution' charge means
Under Oregon law, compelling prostitution covers using force or intimidation, or inducing someone under 18 to engage in prostitution, and it is charged as a Class B felony. The statute also specifies that a defendant's belief about a victim's age is not a sufficient defense. For the statutory language, see the Oregon Revised Statutes.
Police appeal and victim resources
Investigators are asking the public to speak up if they know anything. "Anyone with information related to human trafficking or exploitation in the City of Beaverton is encouraged to contact the Beaverton Police Department at 503-629-0111," KATU quoted from police.
Officials also directed community members and potential victims to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888, or by texting "HELP" to 233733 for confidential assistance. More information is available at the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
Regional context
Across the Portland metro area, law enforcement agencies have recently stepped up targeted efforts to disrupt commercial sexual exploitation, using multi-agency stings and victim-centered outreach, as outlined by the Portland Police Bureau's recent summary of human trafficking missions. Those operations highlight how complex juvenile trafficking cases can be and the importance local agencies place on coordinating closely with advocates and prosecutors.
