BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — A man and woman from Bakersfield have been arrested on charges of human trafficking after they allegedly exploited a runaway teen girl, advertising her for sex in motels across various cities.
Owens Longmire Jr., 19, was arraigned earlier this week, while Kylah Precious Pearson, 20, pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including human trafficking of a minor for sexual exploitation.
Longmire was arrested on April 18, and Pearson was taken into custody shortly thereafter, on Tuesday. The arrests followed an investigation into human trafficking in which police reached out to the victim and examined her phone. They discovered numerous messages between the teen and Longmire, indicating that he had arranged and profited from sexual encounters with clients, who paid him through Cash App accounts. The investigation also uncovered messages between the teen and Pearson, who encouraged the girl to work more aggressively.
Pearson, according to court documents, was fully aware that the teen was being prostituted and urged her to “stop making slow money,” further fueling the exploitation.
Both suspects admitted that they did not have jobs but were renting motel rooms and profiting from the victim’s proceeds from sexual advertisements.
Longmire, who police say is affiliated with the East Side Crips, was arrested after a traffic stop. Though he attempted to flee, he eventually surrendered. During the stop, officers discovered a stolen, loaded firearm under the passenger seat of his vehicle.
Both suspects are set to return to court on May 2. Longmire is being held on a $500,000 bail, while Pearson’s bail has been set at $140,000.
