Tina Hoang, woman found dead on Newport Beach, Calif. shore, faced prostitution charges

(CBS) NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. - A woman found dead face down in the sand in Newport Beach, Calif. on Monday faced prostitution charges in three states, CBS affiliate KTLA reports.

Tina Hoang, a 20-year-old mother, of Bellflower, Calif., spent a good deal of time in the criminal justice system, police and court records show. She had been arrested on suspicion of prostitution-related crimes in California, Nevada and Florida.

Many of the cases remain open and the woman appeared to have only one conviction on her record -- for prostitution in March 2012 in Las Vegas, according to the station.

She was scheduled to appear in court in Van Nuys Friday on prostitution charges.

Hoang's death was listed as "suspicious" by police. Detectives said they are awaiting the results of an autopsy and toxicology tests, the station reports.

David Nisson, Hoang's lawyer, called his client a "nice girl" and said he was very shocked to hear of her death.

Nisson said he last saw Hoang on Feb. 26, a day before she was released from Orange County Jail, where she had been held on suspicion of loitering to commit prostitution in Anaheim, Calif.

"I feel so terrible for her baby," he told the station, adding that he did not know who was caring for the child.

Hoang reportedly gave birth in January, shortly before a stint in jail.

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