Newport Beach CEO and Huntington Beach woman charged with child prostitution

A 59-year-old Newport Beach man was charged by the Orange County district attorney’s office with engaging in the prostitution of two teenage girls, and charges were also filed against the 22-year-old Huntington Beach woman that brought the children to him for sex.

Ian Charles Schenkel — the CEO of Ontario-based Haliburton International Foods — faces six felony counts associated with unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor and two misdemeanor charges for soliciting prostitution of a minor. If convicted on all counts, Schenkel faces a maximum sentence of eight years in state prison and almost two years in county jail.

Amanda Emilia Perez, 22, was charged with six felony counts as related to the facilitation of the prostitution of minors. If convicted on all counts, Perez faces a maximum sentence of 14 years and eight months in state prison.

Both were arrested last week and released on bonds of $100,000 and $70,000, respectively.

“The exploitation of children for sex acts shocks the public conscience,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said. “It is reprehensible and it is unlawful. We will prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law and we will work to ensure the judicial system protects these vulnerable victims.”

Schenkel was scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 12, but court records Wednesday said that the arraignment was canceled.

Court records do not currently indicate when Perez will be arraigned.

Prosecutors said investigators began looking at Schenkel in October 2019 when a man reported that his daughter had inappropriate sexual contact with Schenkel. The girl, identified by prosecutors as the first Jane Doe, told police that Perez would take her to meet men who would pay to have sex with her. Prosecutors said that Perez would then take a cut.

Perez is also alleged to have brought a second teenage girl to Schenkel, who paid to have sex with the child. Prosecutors said that Perez also took a cut of that money.

Authorities are asking for anyone with information to identify potential other victims to reach out to the Newport Beach Police Department at (949) 644-3790.

Haliburton International Foods directed calls inquiring about Schenkel to the voicemail of Matthew Taggart, the vice president. As of Wednesday afternoon, Schenkel was not listed on the company website.

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