Eight O.C. men convicted of trying to hook up with prostitutes

June 1, 2018

EIGHT MEN CONVICTED OF LOITERING WITH INTENT TO COMMIT PROSTITUTION OR AGREEING TO ENGAGE IN PROSTITUTION

*Conviction details of sex purchasers are featured on the OCDA website

SANTA ANA, Calif. – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) convicted eight men in May 2018 of loitering with the intent to commit prostitution or agreeing to engage in prostitution. The defendants in these cases approached a woman whom they believed to be a prostitute, or loitered in areas known for prostitution and human trafficking in Orange County. Each of the defendants below agreed to engage, or loitered with the intent to engage, in commercial sex with a woman and were subsequently arrested by law enforcement.

Booking photos, when available, and conviction details of defendants on the sex purchasers section of the OCDA’s website and can be found at: http://orangecountyda.org/media/sexpurchasers.asp.

Pictured on the website:

• Raymundo Espino Bautista, 66, Santa Ana
• Brandon Matthew Bishop, 35, Beaumont
• Sheldon Deshawnlewis Christensen, 20, Rancho Santa Margarita
• Alex Omar Villegas-Santana, 38, Santa Ana
• Juan Valladares Zamora, 37, Santa Ana

Not Pictured:

• Walter E. Escobar, 35, Santa Ana
• Richard Allen Smith, 52, Laguna Hills
• Juan Carlos Valadez, 29, Fullerton

The Garden Grove Police Department, Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD), Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD), Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD), investigated these cases, as well as the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF). Members of the OCHTTF and the OCDA work proactively to protect women and minors from falling victim to commercial sexual exploitation. OCHTTF is a partnership between the Anaheim Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Costa Mesa Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations,Irvine Police Department, NBPD, OCDA, OCSD, SAPD, and community and non-profit partners.

Deputy District Attorney Kathleen McHale of the HEAT Unit prosecuted these cases.

Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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