San Diego man charged with pimping, human trafficking in O.C. case
A man described by prosecutors as a “pimp” and “modern-day slave owner,” arrested in an Orange County undercover sting, faces charges related to human trafficking and prostitution for allegedly pimping women on a sex website, authorities said.
Harvey Rashad McNight, 29, has been charged with one felony count of human trafficking, three felony counts of pimping and three felony counts of pandering by procuring, according to a statement Monday from the Orange County district attorney’s office.
McNight of San Diego could face a maximum sentence of 28 years in prison if convicted on all counts, prosecutors said.
McNight, set to be arraigned Tuesday, is being held on $150,000 bail.
Prosecutors described McNight as a pimp who “exploits women and/or children for financial gain.” In this case, he is accused of pimping three women between 20 and 40 years old.
In March, prosecutors said, McNight advertised the women on a website used by those looking for prostitutes. The district attorney’s office declined to identify the website.
In a sting operation, an undercover Santa Ana police officer posing as a customer arranged to meet the three women March 8 in a Santa Ana motel room, prosecutors said.
That day, prosecutors said, McNight brought one of the women from San Diego to Orange County against her will.
He allegedly pimped the three women, who met with the undercover officer in the motel room while other officers were posted nearby. Using evidence collected at the motel, prosecutors said, police investigators were able to identify McNight as the pimp.
Later in the day, prosecutors said McNight returned to the motel room, allegedly to collect money from the women, and was arrested.
At the time of his arrest, according to prosecutors, he had a cellphone on him with messages from the women in which they called him “Daddy.”
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