UPDATE: Riverside PD arrests second man, accused of pimping teenage runaway
UPDATED: Aug. 18 & 19, With details regarding second suspect’s arrest and subsequent release on bail.
See original story below.
RIVERSIDE — Officials announced yesterday the arrest of a second man they allege was involved in pimping out and prostituting a teenage runaway girl within the City of Riverside and surrounding areas. The man’s arrest follows the arrest earlier this month of a 59-year-old transient and registered sex offender who was also allegedly involved in forcing the young victim into prostitution.
The allegations came to light last month, after observant employees at a Riverside adult lingerie and novelty store noticed strange behavior from the teenage girl and an adult male who were repeatedly observed approaching men and other customers inside the store.
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After arresting John Robert Titow on Aug. 2, Riverside PD Vice Unit detectives continued their investigation, eventually identifying a second suspect they allege was also involved in forcing the teen into providing prostitution services to adults.
Riverside PD Vice Unit detectives arrested Leonard Martinez Jr., alleging he was involved in pimping a teenage runaway girl in Riverside. RPD photo
The second man detectives arrested was identified as Leonard Martinez Jr., 32, of Mira Loma. Officials located him Thursday, Aug. 16, on Gemini Ct., in the unincorporated area of Mira Loma.
Martinez was arrested and booked into Robert Presley Detention Center on suspicion of pandering of a minor, lewd and lascivious acts with a minor, engaging in prostitution with a minor, and annoying or molesting a child.
Although Titow remains in custody on $125,000 bail, Martinez was released today, Aug. 19, after posting $75,000 bail.
Based on their investigation, detectives believe there may be additional victims and/or suspects who have not yet come forward or been identified.
Vice Unit detectives are continuing to investigate these alleged crimes and officials have urged anyone with information regarding this investigation or who has been victimized by these two suspects to immediately contact Detective L. Blaszak at (951) 353-7205. Callers can refer to incident file number P18126293 and can remain anonymous.
Original Story: Thursday, Aug 9, 6:34 a.m.: Registered sex offender arrested, accused of pimping teenage runaway
RIVERSIDE — Officers announced yesterday the arrest of a transient they allege was pimping out a teenage runaway girl for the purpose of prostitution. The arrest happened about a month after observant employees at Romantix, an adult lingerie and novelty store, realized something “seemed odd” about the way he and the girl kept entering the store and approaching men and other customers.
According to officials, the man they arrested Tuesday, July 7, has a prior arrest and conviction for lewd and lascivious acts with a child and is a registered sex offender. The alleged suspect, John Robert Titow, 59, remains in custody on $125,000 bail.
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Based on their investigation, detectives believe there may be additional victims and/or suspects who have not yet come forward or been identified.
Riverside PD Vice Unit detectives arrested John Robert Titow, alleging he was involved in pimping a teenage runaway girl in Riverside. RPD photo
City of Riverside police officers responded to the business shortly after 3 a.m., after receiving a call from the business in the 3900 block of Market Street, in downtown Riverside, regarding possible child prostitution occurring.
The employees reported a female juvenile was at the store with an adult male, later identified as Titow, soliciting customers for possible prostitution services, Special Investigations Bureau/Vice Unit Sergeant Chad Collopy explained after Titow’s arrest.
When officers arrived at the store they were unable to locate the victim or suspect, who had already left the location.
Based on the circumstances, the case was handed over to detectives assigned to RPD’s Vice Unit, who immediately began conducting follow-up investigation into the allegations.
Vice Unit detectives developed leads and gathered information, eventually identified the female victim. Officials learned the young teen, whose identity has not been released due to her age, had recently returned to her parents after running away from home.
Detectives also learned that while she had been a runaway, the girl had been in the company of Titow and while she had been in his company she had been engaging in prostitution services at Titow’s behest and under his guidance.
As their investigation was continuing, on Aug. 2, detectives contacted John Titow at RPD’s Magnolia Station. He was subsequently arrested and booked into Robert Presley Detention Center on suspicion of procuring a child younger than 16 for the purpose of lewd and lascivious acts and false imprisonment, both felonies; as well as supervising or aiding a person for the purpose of prostitution and recruiting a person and providing a tattoo to a minor, which are both misdemeanors.
Additional charges could be filed by the District Attorney’s office.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation or who has been victimized by Titow or his associates is encouraged to contact Detective L. Blaszak at (951) 353-7205. Callers can refer to incident file number P18126293 and can remain anonymous.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery, 47, recently moved to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and The Mountain Echo in Shasta 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. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s 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.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 14 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.
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