RivCo man accused of sex trafficking teen charged with multiple felonies

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) - A man accused of sexually assaulting and pimping out a Temecula Valley girl for sexual services in Los Angeles County was charged today with human trafficking of a minor and other offenses.   

Nestor Alexis Aguirre Chavez, 20, of Wilmington was arrested last week following an investigation by the Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force.

Along with the trafficking count, Chavez is charged with pimping, pandering, contacting a minor for the purpose of perpetrating a sex crime and a sentence-enhancing allegation of inducing a minor to engage in criminal activity.

He pleaded not guilty during an arraignment before Superior Court Judge Judith Clark, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for Dec. 17 at the Riverside Hall of Justice.

Chavez is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside.

According to Investigator Joseph Riddle of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, on Nov. 23, deputies were alerted that a 15-year-old girl was missing from her residence near Temecula.  

The matter was referred to the Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, which initiated an investigation that determined the victim was in Long Beach, where Chavez had allegedly put her to work as a prostitute after sexually assaulting her, Riddle said.

The defendant and victim, whose identity was not disclosed, had apparently met via social media.

The girl was found and taken to a hospital for treatment, after which she was placed in protective custody.

A search warrant was served on Chavez at his residence on East Rubidoux Street, where he was taken into custody without incident Friday. 

Riddle said the case highlights how ``predators ... utilize social media platforms frequented by children and young adults to prey on their emotional and circumstantial vulnerabilities.''

``Parents are reminded to be vigilant and monitor the social media platforms used by their children,'' the sergeant said.   

Chavez has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.