Overcast with rain showers at times. Thunder possible. High 54F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Partly cloudy skies early will give way to occasional showers later during the night. Low 38F. Winds light and variable. Updated: November 28, am. To set up the sting, investigators placed an ad on several websites known for prostitution-related advertisements, announcing a female was willing to engage in sexual acts in exchange for money. When someone responded to an ad, an undercover detective negotiated a sexual act for an amount of money, then gave the caller the location of a hotel meeting place.
Once the caller arrived at the location, the person was arrested on suspicion of soliciting prostitution. All were cooperative when contacted, Hoover said, and all but one were booked, then released with a notice to appear. Those arrested included year-old Owen Wright of Los Olivos.
The rest, ranging in age from 19 to 78 years of age, were from Goleta, Santa Barbara and Carpinteria. One suspect, Dr. Richard Davis, 55, of Santa Barbara was allegedly found in possession of a hypodermic syringe loaded with suspected fentanyl and methamphetamine and was also booked on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance. Hoover said over the years, the number of prostitution-related advertisements online has grown substantially, and a majority of the women advertised as prostitutes are victims of various types of abuse or human trafficking.
One factor driving human trafficking is the demand for women to engage in sexual exploitation, Hoover said. He can be reached at mhodgson leecentralcoastnews. Edit Article Add New Article. Toggle navigation Menu. Members Become a member. Don't have an account? Sign Up Today.
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