A Santa Rosa man has been sentenced to seven years in state prison after prosecutors said he trafficked his underage girlfriend, arranging for her to perform sexual acts for money. The defendant, 20-year-old Zander Flores, pleaded no contest in June to felony counts that include pimping, criminal threats and oral copulation with a minor, along with a misdemeanor charge for possession of child pornography. In court, the victim described the trauma of being used and manipulated by someone she believed she could trust.
Sentencing and charges
According to prosecutors, the crimes grew out of a prior dating relationship, with Flores allegedly arranging for the minor to have sex for money with other people in San Francisco, the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office said. Flores will receive credit for roughly one year already served in county jail while awaiting trial. Another Santa Rosa man believed to be involved, 23-year-old Rodrico Anthony Lopez Jr., has also pleaded no contest to related counts and is scheduled for sentencing in August, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.
Local response and context
Advocates say the case fits a troubling but familiar pattern, in which traffickers present themselves as romantic partners to win trust and gain control over vulnerable teens. Per Verity, Sonoma County coordinates trafficking prosecutions and survivor services through a Human Trafficking Task Force and the Family Justice Center, which aim to provide trauma-informed support. County records state that the task force brings together law enforcement, health services and nonprofit agencies to coordinate housing, counseling and other wraparound care for exploited youth, as outlined by Sonoma County records.
Help for survivors
Survivors and family members can call Verity’s 24/7 crisis and support line at (707) 545-7273 for immediate, confidential help, or reach out to the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Victim Services unit for assistance with shelter, counseling and court accompaniment. The DA’s office maintains a Victim Services page that outlines available programs and advocacy during prosecutions, according to the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office.
The seven-year sentence is the latest local prosecution aimed at disrupting the sexual exploitation of minors and connecting victims with long-term services and support. Court records and partner agencies will handle the next steps for survivors, along with the remaining proceedings and sentencing dates in the case.
