Edhat StaffBy the edhat staff
Seventeen men were booked and arrested by Sheriff’s Deputies for solicitation of prostitution during an undercover sting.
In a press release, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office stated this was part of an ongoing effort to reduce human trafficking victims.
A two-day undercover operation took place in Goleta on Thursday, September 20 and Friday, September 21 with assistance from the Santa Barbara Police Department and District Attorney’s Office.
Detectives placed an advertisement online on various websites that are known for prostitution-related advertisements. The ad stated a female was available and willing to perform sexual acts for money. An undercover detective negotiated the act for an amount of money and gave the suspect the location of the hotel to meet. When the suspect arrived, they were arrested, stated the Sheriff’s Office.
A total of seventeen men ranging in age from 19 to 78 years of age in different county areas were arrested for solicitation of prostitution.
The men who were arrested were Jeffrey Goddard (45 of Carpinteria), Cassidy King (30 of Carpinteria), Jorge Sifuentes-Dominguez (24 of Goleta), A.Thomas Hunt Jr. (50 of Goleta), Juan Pimentel-Campos (48 of Goleta), Jorge Lorca Jr. (39 of Santa Barbara), Dr. Richard Davis (55 of Santa Barbara), Jose Nava-Carbajal (29 of Santa Barbara), Owen Wright (31 of Los Olivos), Soupitak Pal (34 of Goleta), Joshua Silverstein (19 of Santa Barbara), Dimitar Dimtrov (29 of Santa Barbara), Rodolfo Cortes-Avelino (23 of Goleta), Alain Pereira (23 of Santa Barbara), David Joseph Gomez (27 of Santa Barbara), and Frank Palmer (78 of Goleta).
Dr. Richard Davis was also booked for possession of a controlled substance after being found in possession of a loaded needle that contained suspected fentanyl and methamphetamine. He was released after posted $20,000 bail, reports the Sheriff’s Office.
Prostitution-related advertisements online have dramatically increased and the Sheriff’s Office stated these operations are intended to deter human trafficking within the county. A large percentage of the women are victims of trafficking as well as various abuses.
