Man Arrested For Alleged Sexual Assault Of Young Girl, Forcing Her Into Prostitution
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A multi-agency task force arrested a 23-year-old man for the alleged sexual assault of a minor and forcing the young girl into prostitution, authorities announced Monday.
The suspect, identified as L.A. resident Michael Vincent Pree, was arrested last Wednesday by members of the "Innocence Lost Task Force," according to the LAPD.
Pree was charged with aggravated sexual assault of a minor, pimping and pandering, and multiple counts of lewd acts upon a child following a review of the case by the L.A. County District Attorney's office.
Additional evidence against Pree was discovered after searching his home and booked for use during future court proceedings, the LAPD said.
According to L.A. County jail records, Pree posted $50,000 bail and was released Dec. 22, the same day the D.A.'s office filed criminal charges. He's due in court on Jan. 12 for arraignment.
The unidentified victim, who was under age 12, was allegedly contacted by Pree. He allegedly took the victim to his residence and forced her to engage in sexual intercourse with him on numerous occasions over the course of one week.
Pree also allegedly forced the victim to work as a street-walking prostitute over the course of the same week, according to the LAPD.
His arrest was the result of an ongoing investigation by the Los Angeles Innocence Lost Task Force, in support of the FBI's Innocence Lost National Initiative.
The task force, which includes the LAPD, the FBI, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, the U.S. Attorney's Office, and the Department of Homeland Security, was formed to address the growing problem of commercial and sexual exploitation of children through prostitution in the United States.
The initiative has resulted in the development of 44 dedicated task forces and working groups throughout the country, involving federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, according to the LAPD.
To date, these groups have worked successfully to rescue more than 1,800 children, and have successfully led to the conviction of more than 800 pimps, madams and their associates who exploit children through prostitution, LAPD officials said.
Anyone with further information regarding Pree is asked to call the Innocence Lost Task Force Hotline at (800) 655-4095.
During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to (877) LAPD-24-7. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.
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