PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety
October 13, 2022 10:00am
Issued by: J.P. Pritchard
707-584-2691, [email protected]
Yesterday, on October 12, 2022, the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety Community Oriented Problem Solving (COPS) Team arrested a suspect involved in human trafficking in the City of Rohnert Park. During the 11-month investigation, officers arrested Pedro Lopez-Plascencia, a 27-year-old resident of Santa Rosa, for commercial sex trafficking of a 14-year-old child at local motels in the City of Rohnert Park and the surrounding area.
Lopez-Plascencia was arrested on six felony charges, including one felony count of 236.1(c)(1) PC – Human trafficking of a minor for sex, one felony count of 266h(b)(2) PC – Pimping a minor under the age of 16, one felony count of 266i(b)(2) PC – Pandering a minor under the age of 16, one felony count of 266j PC – Procuring a child under the age of 16 for lewd or lascivious acts, one count of 311.1(a) PC – Distribution of child pornography, and one felony count of 11353 HS – Providing a controlled substance to a minor. Lopez-Plascencia was transported to the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility and is being held on a $750,000 bail.
The Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety COPS Team is a specialized unit dedicated to addressing a variety of community and safety issues, including narcotics, human trafficking, traffic complaints, and unsheltered communities.
Human trafficking can occur in any industry, including agriculture, construction, domestic service (e.g., housekeeper, nanny, etc.), restaurants, salons, commercial sex work, massage parlors, small businesses, and others. With awareness, you can help to identify and report cases of human trafficking. The average age for a victim to be forced into the sex industry in Sonoma County is estimated to be between 12 and 14 years old, and victims are usually targeted based on their vulnerability. In Sonoma County, more than 200 cases of human trafficking have been filed by the District Attorney’s Office since 2011. Due to the nature of the crime, a majority of cases are unreported.
If you have information regarding this case or other possible victims of human trafficking, please contact Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety Officer Chris Snyder at (707) 584-2600 and refer to Case #22-2603.
Media inquires can be directed to Deputy Chief, Kevin Kilgore at [email protected] or 707-584-2647.
