1 month ago
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FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - Fresno Police are optimistic that the recently signed AB 379 volition assistance them analyse and apprehension those looking to bargain young girls for sex.
The law, conscionable signed by Governor Gavin Newsom past week, goes into effect successful January. Officers accidental they're preparing present truthful they tin instrumentality the instrumentality arsenic soon arsenic they can.
The instrumentality makes it a misdemeanor to loiter with the intent to bargain sex. Until 2021, it had been amerciable to loiter with the intent to bargain sex. This caller instrumentality volition enactment that backmost connected the books.
The instrumentality also makes it a felony for older adults to bargain 16- and 17-year-olds for sex. Police accidental galore traffickers person been buying teens successful that property scope and selling them for sex.
Fresno Police Lieutenant Andre Benson is the commandant of the Multi-Agency Gang Unit with Fresno Police.
"You person each accidental present to get retired of this lifestyle. Every opportunity," Benson said, sending a connection to traffickers.
He and his squad are present getting acceptable for the instrumentality to spell into effect. He said they're readying operations, and are taking this caller instrumentality precise seriously. He said helium hopes it makes a quality successful the lives of victims.
"We privation to bash everything that we tin to rescue them. But we person to commencement with these enactment purchasers and making it known. And it's not going to beryllium a secret. We are going aft these individuals who are coming to acquisition these women and minors for sex. And we're not stopping," helium said.
Benson said this tin assistance them apprehension radical they antecedently couldn't person nether the loitering broadside of the law.
"You should deliberation astir those things earlier you spell retired and marque the determination to acquisition these women for sex. You person the opportunity. Now, the infinitesimal you spell and you commencement soliciting this caller instrumentality is successful effect, you're going to get arrested. The infinitesimal you spell aft a minor, you're going to get arrested. It is present going to beryllium a felony."
Benson said the section is utilizing this clip present to get acceptable for January.
"We person a batch of things that's planned. We're going forward. And with this caller law, we are going to beryllium addressing the folks who are retired and who are purchasing these women for sex. And we're going to absorption archetypal connected those individuals who are retired seeking minors," her said.
Benson said trafficking is simply a immense contented crossed the Central Valley. Numbers from the section amusement truthful acold this year, they've worked connected 55 quality trafficking cases that impact children.
He said they made 25 felony arrests, and retired of those people, 21 were pack members.
Benson said they besides seized 12 guns truthful acold this year. He said it's important due to the fact that it means, immoderate radical who amusement up to bargain sex, often from minors, are showing up armed. He said it puts some teens and officers astatine risk.
Benson present has this connection for parents.
"If you're a parent, conscionable beryllium aware, beryllium progressive successful your kid's life, inquire those questions."
Benson besides said the instrumentality includes assistance opportunities, thing some organizations similar Breaking the Chains and the territory attorney's bureau tin some payment from.
