SALINAS, California – Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced today that Marcus T. Carter, 41 years old and a resident of Antioch, California, entered a plea of “no contest” to a felony charge of Human Trafficking of a Minor for purposes of Commercial Sex Acts.
In addition to admitting that he was sexually exploiting a child, Carter also admitted that he suffered a prior prison sentence and admitted that he was previously convicted of a robbery out of Alameda County in 2013, which is a “strike” pursuant to California’s Three Strikes Law. At the time of his plea, Carter was advised and agreed that this current conviction of human trafficking of a minor is now also a “strike” and that it will require him to registered as a sex offender for the remainder of his life. Carter will be sentenced to a term of 24 years in state prison on September 4, 2024.
At approximately 7:30 pm, on April 10, 2021, Jane Doe escaped to a gas station around Kern Street in the city of Salinas and called 911 seeking police assistance. Salinas Police Officer Jonathan Tuiolosgea responded and met with Jane Doe.
At that time, Jane Doe was just turned 13 years old, and had two black eyes and a swollen jaw. Jane Doe reported that Carter had taken her from Stockton, California, and had forced her to engage in commercial sex acts with buyers throughout the state of California and Reno, Nevada for approximately 1-2 weeks. Through diligent investigation, Salinas Police officers and detectives learned that Jane Doe was taken by Carter on April 3, 2021. Carter forced her to engage in commercial sex acts in Antioch, Pittsburg, San Jose, Reno, and Salinas, among other cities.
Jane Doe alerted officers at the time of the 911 call that Carter and his associates, two adult females, were in the area possibly in a rental car with Missouri license plates or in one of the females’ Jaguars.
Officer Luis Dorantes located one of the described vehicles with Carter in it and Carter was immediately arrested.
Salinas Police Detective Luis Toribio and District Attorney Investigator Pablo Andrade worked with FBI Agent(s) to pursue every lead and collect every piece of evidence possible. The evidence collected from Jane Doe, local motels, the female associates, the described vehicles, and Carter (including Carter’s own cell phone activity) corroborated Jane Doe’s statements.
This case, like so many other cases involving the sexual exploitation of minors, was solved through successful interagency collaboration and a commitment by detectives and investigators to uncovering and pursuing every lead. Jane Doe was supported through this process by Victim Witness Program Manager Alma Sanchez.
If you or someone you know is being forced to engage in commercial sex work, or some other type of labor, call 911 or reach out to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
Related Stories:
- Jan 26, 2024 – Senator Grove Highlights Importance of National Human Trafficking Awareness Month
- Sept. 12, 2023 – Human Trafficking Bill Passes Assembly in 80-0 Vote
- April 4, 2023 – Bill Lets Survivors of Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Tell Their Stories in Court
1 comment
24 years isn’t enough. Immediate death penalty for people convicted of human trafficking a minor. That POS doesn’t deserve to be a part of society ever again.
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