Hemet resident charged in human trafficking investigation

HEMET – A Hemet resident – who has been accused of human trafficking, pimping and other sex crimes – was arrested Wednesday, May 10, according to sheriff’s officials. The alleged sex crimes occurred in the areas of Hemet, San Bernardino, Pomona and Palm Springs.

“The prostitution activities were advertised online or occurred on the streets of well-known prostitution corridors of those cities,” Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant John Sawyer explained in a written press release after the arrest.

Sheriff’s officials allege that 31-year-old Lawrence Randall used violence and threats to force a 19-year-old female to commit acts of prostitution for him during the months of March and April.

For her protection, officials have not released the victim’s identity.

“The victim…was compelled to participate in these commercial sex acts by Randall through threats or acts of violence against her,” Sawyer said. “These acts of violence included Randall choking the victim, hitting her head against a wall, threatening her with a firearm, and burning lit cigarettes against her bare skin.”

After Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force members assumed an investigation that began April 24, they served a search warrant at a private residence on the 600 block of E. Devonshire Avenue in Hemet.

While serving the search warrant, officers located and seized evidence related to their investigation.

“At least one additional female working under Lawrence’s direction has been positively identified and contacted by law enforcement through this investigation,” said Sawyer. “RCAHT Task Force strongly believes there may be additional victims who have yet to come forward.”

After their investigation and the service of the search warrant, RCAHT Task Force officials, Hemet police officers and Gang Impact Team members located and arrested Randall. He was arrested while driving in the area of N. Sante Fe Street and E. Oakland Avenue.

An online jail records search revealed Randall was booked into the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta on suspicion of human trafficking, pimping, pandering, being a felon in possession of a firearm and violation of parole.

Randall remains in jail and is being held without bail due to his parole violation.

Anyone with additional information about this investigation should contact Deputy Christina Pierson of the Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force. Deputy Pierson can be reached at (951) 955-1700 or via email. Callers can refer to incident file number R171140002 and can remain anonymous.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News and Anza Valley Outlook and also writes for Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg and breaking his back in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.