HEMET: Sex trafficking investigation results in 3 victims, ages 15-18, recovered-two men arrested

HEMET — Officials have announced the arrest of two men and rescue of three girls, including two 15-year-old’s, in relation to a sex trafficking investigation.

The trafficking case came to light Thursday afternoon, Jan. 18, when a Hemet PD sergeant spotted two of the young victims engaged in a sex act with a man inside a car parked on a busy street in the city of Hemet. A third man is still being investigated for his possible involvement in the trafficking and sexual exploitation of the three victims.

After an initial investigation, Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force members arrested Marvonte Deon Dolberry, 22, and Luis Chavez-Avila, 30, for a variety of charges related to the exploitation of the three victims. Both men are San Jacinto residents.

Officials arrested Marvonte Dolberry, 22, and Luis Chavez-Avila, 30, during a human-trafficking and sexual exploitation investigation. The pair was arrested after a Hemet PD sergeant spotted Chavez-Avila engaged in a sexual act with two young victims inside a car parked on a Hemet street.

The investigation began about 4:45 p.m., when the sergeant spotted suspicious activity happening inside a car parked on the 300 block of South Gilmore Street near Acacia Avenue in Hemet, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant John Sawyer explained earlier today.

When the officer approached the vehicle, he observed what he suspected to be prostitution related activity.

“During the check of the parked vehicle, two females were detained while actively engaged in the performance of a sexual act with the male driver of the vehicle,” said Sawyer. Officials also detained the driver of the vehicle who was engaged in the sex act with the two victims. He was later identified as Chavez-Avila.

“Further investigation by the sergeant and assisting Hemet P.D. officers confirmed this to be an act of prostitution,” Sawyer explained.

The two females, identified only as an 18-year-old and 15-year-old juvenile, reportedly told investigating officers they were being exploited for the purpose of sex trafficking. Further investigation determined the minor was a recently reported runaway from the unincorporated area of Hemet.

Based on their initial investigation and interviews, Hemet PD officials contacted the Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force to assist with the ongoing investigation.

RCAHT investigators responded to the Hemet Police Department to interview the involved subjects and collect evidence related to their investigation. During questioning, officials identified Dolberry as possibly being responsible for “pimping and trafficking” the two victims, according to Sawyer.

“Within the hour, Hemet Police officers located and arrested Dolberry at a nearby motel in the 800 block of West Florida Avenue,” said Sawyer. “In the accompaniment of Dolberry at the motel at the time of his arrest was another male subject along with an additional 15-year-old female, believed to also be a victim of sex-trafficking.”

Based on their investigation, RCAHT officials took the two juveniles into protective custody and both girls were later reunited and returned to their families.

Dolberry was arrested and booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning on suspicion of human trafficking, trafficking of a minor, pimping, pandering, oral copulation with a minor and unlawful sexual intercourse, according to Sawyer.

He remains in custody, held on $85,000 bail and was scheduled to be arraigned at an unspecified court today. Information regarding his arraignment had not yet been made available.

Chavez-Avila was also arrested, but was then released with a citation to appear at an unspecified court for charges of loitering for prostitution. He is scheduled to be in court April 4.

RCAHT’s investigation into the third man who was detained at the motel is ongoing.

“Should it be later determined this additional person was involved in the sexual exploitation of these juveniles, he will be criminally charged and identified in a future supplemental press release,” Sawyer explained.

The Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force is a multidisciplinary task force which combines the investigative resources of both local and federal law enforcement and was formed in 2010 to address crimes involving the exploitation of victims via force, fraud, or coercion.

These cases often involve the commercial sex trafficking of children, as well as incidents of forced labor, indentured servitude, debt bondage, or slavery.

Hemet Police Department is a part-time participant on the RCAHT Task Force, collaborating on specific trafficking cases as well as participating alongside the task force in joint proactive enforcement operations within the city of Hemet.

The RCAHT Task Force also provides victim services and education/outreach through partnerships with the non-profit groups Operation SafeHouse and Million Kids.

The law enforcement component of RCAHT is currently composed of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Riverside County District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, along with the part-time participation of the Hemet Police Department and Riverside Police Department.

The investigation of this incident is active and ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding this case and investigation is encouraged to immediately contact Deputy Sheriff Daniel Engels at (951) 955-1700 or via email. Callers can refer to incident file number R180180007 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

SEE ALSO: Hemet resident charged in human trafficking investigation

SEE ALSO: Nearly 500 arrested during statewide human trafficking sting

SEE ALSO: Multi state sex trafficking ring uncovers 20 victims, many juveniles

SEE ALSO: Desert Hot Springs man arrested accused of human trafficking of a minor

SEE ALSO: Last of 3 sought in Palm Desert child sex trafficking ring arrested

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, who recently moved from Riverside County to Shasta County, runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook as well as 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, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries 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.