East Bay man charged with sex trafficking minor, after minor escapes, calls 911

The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office announced that Marcus Carter, 41, from Antioch, pleaded no contest to a felony charge of human trafficking a minor for purposes of commercial sex acts.

At the time of his plea, the district office said Carter was advised and agreed that his current conviction of human trafficking a minor was another “strike” under California law and would require him to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life. Carter will be sentenced to 24 years in state prison on Sept. 4.

On April 10, 2021, Jane Doe escaped to a gas station around Kern Street in Salinas and called 911. Salinas Police Officer Johnathan Tuiolosgea responded and met with Jane Doe, noticing that she had two black eyes and a swollen jaw. At the time she had just turned 13 years old.

Jane Doe reported that Carter had taken her from Stockton and forced her to engage in commercial sex acts with buyers throughout California, and in Reno, Nevada for about one to two weeks. Through their investigation, police corroborated her story. Police found that she was taken on April 3, 2021 and was forced to engage in sex acts in Antitoch, Pittsburgh, San Jose, Salinas, Reno and other cities.

Jane Doe told police that Carter and his associates, two adult females, were in the area and listed possible cars they could be driving in.

Police found one of the cars with Carter inside, and arrested him on the scene. The evidence collected from Jane Doe, local motels, the female associates, the vehicles described, and Carter, including his cell phone activity helped police confirm Jane Doe’s story. Jane Doe was supported through this process by Victim Witness Program Manager Alma Sanchez.

If you or someone you know is being forced to engage in commercial sex work, or some other type of labor, call 911 or reach out to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888.