Two Residents of L.A. Suspected of Sex Trafficking a 15-Year-Old Girl Arrested in San Bernardino
Photo: Johnette Terrell
A man and a woman were recently arrested in San Bernardino for the alleged human trafficking of a 15-year-old girl.
San Bernardino Police pulled over the car containing the two suspects and a 15-year-old girl at about 4:30 AM on October 30, 2019, near the intersection of 6th Street and F Street. The suspects were identified as 30-year-old Peter Castillo and 18-year-old Johnette Terrell. Police identified the juvenile as a runaway from Los Angeles County.
Peter Castillo
The three subjects were detained and brought to the San Bernardino Police Station for interviews, which were conducted by members of the San Bernardino County Human Trafficking Task Force.
Information gained from interviews with all three individuals revealed that the juvenile was being trafficked for prostitution by Terrell and Castillo. “Through continued interviews, Task Force investigators were able to confirm her identity and the circumstances that lead her into being controlled by her traffickers, and ultimately her exploitation,” states Sheriff-Coroner John McMahon in the written statement. “The victim was rescued, offered immediate services and resources, then safely returned to her family.”
The suspects were each charged with felony violations related to human trafficking of a minor. Castillo, who had been out on bail in connection with a prior case of human trafficking in San Bernardino County, was booked into Central Detention Center without bail. Terrell was booked into West Valley Detention center on a bail of $150,000. Both are scheduled to appear in San Bernardino County Superior Court on November 12th.
The San Bernardino County Human Trafficking Task Force consists of people from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, Ontario Police Department, Redlands Police Department, California State Parole, Office of Homeland Security, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
If anyone has information regarding other details or victims that may be related to this case, please contact the San Bernardino County Human Trafficking Task Force at (909) 387-8400. To make an anonymous tip, please contact We-Tip at 1-888-78-CRIME or leave information on the We-Tip-Hotline at www.wetip.com.
