14 Arrested In Temecula Sex-Trafficking Sting

TEMECULA, CA — A multi-agency crackdown on sex trafficking in Temecula took place Thursday and 14 people were arrested, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department announced Friday.

The arrests came after law enforcement placed "decoy" ads on several classified websites used for the solicitation of online prostitution. When "johns" responded to the ads, undercover agents negotiated paid sexual acts and meeting places, according to the department.

When the johns turned up at the agreed-upon rendezvous locations, they were arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor solicitation of prostitution and booked into Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta.

In addition to arrestees, one woman "believed to be a victim of human trafficking and possibly being forced to engage in acts of prostitution against her will" was referred to victim services, according to the sheriff's department.