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Published On: Wed, Feb 4th, 2015

Kevin Williams, arrested after links to human trafficking

A man with a history of human trafficking links was arrested Saturday after police discovered he held a woman and a minor female against their will. Kevin Williams was apprehended at a Motel 6 in Pittsburg, police said Tuesday as more details are being revealed.

Police interviewed Williams, 25, after a 911 call of disturbance and quickly identified a much greater problem.

“Based on responses they were getting it was evident that they were afraid to talk next to male suspect,” Pittsburg police Cpt. Ron Raman said. “Our officers were able to recognize that, change direction on investigation, and get detectives involved.”

 Photo/Vectorportal via wikimedia commons

Photo/Vectorportal via wikimedia commons

Once isolated, the woman and young girl spoke more freely about Williams. Raman told the press that the girl was a runaway (from Oakley) and she was “afraid,” noting that fear was a common practice in sex trafficking.

“The victims of human trafficking are severely traumatized,” said Cynthia Peterson, director of a local Rape Crisis Center for Community Violence Solutions. “They are usually beaten, raped, forced to engage in commercial sex acts, often deprived of food until they comply or meet their quota for the day.”

Williams was already on felony probation related to a prior conviction for human trafficking, Raman said.

Raman praised the officers for picking up on certain warning signs and being able to tell that there was more going on than a simple argument.

“It is a crime that I think is underreported, and many victims don’t know they’re victimized,” she said.

Raman said that detectives were still working to uncover the full extent of Williams’ activities and that multiple charges could be filed soon.

Human trafficking is a crime that typically exists under the radar because warning signs are subtle, but there is a growing effort to combat it through legislation, like a recent law passed regulating massage parlors, and through more active efforts by local law enforcement, Peterson said.

“I think it’s important that a lot of folks realize that trafficking is happening in Contra Costa County and it’s not a crime that only happens overseas,” she said. “It is prevalent in the U.S. as well as Contra Costa County.”

Police are encouraging anyone with information on this case or human trafficking in general to call Det. Joshua Reddoch at 925-252-4184 or the Pittsburg Police at 925-252-4940.

Contact Nate Gartrell at 925-779-7174 or follow him on Twitter at Twitter.com/NateGartrell

UPDATE: The original post alluded to Pittsburgh, PA in error – BBJ, The Dispatch

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About the Author

- Roxanne "Butter" Bracco began with the Dispatch as Pittsburgh Correspondent, but will be providing reports and insights from Washington DC, Maryland and the surrounding region. Contact Roxie aka "Butter" at theglobaldispatch@gmail ATTN: Roxie or Butter Bracco

Displaying 2 Comments
Have Your Say
  1. CWK says:

    If he was a “serial rapist” who lurked in the shadows and attacked women in their homes, he probably would have spent the rest of his life in prison.

    But if you add in the aggrivating circumstances that the victim is a minor, and a runaway, and add in the additional felonies of kidnapping and pandering to the rape offense, and he gets probation.

    What gives?

  2. Your Name... says:

    Wrong Pittsburg, lol.

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