Above: Kendall McDaniel
(Courtesy of Kern County District Attorney’s Office)
A Kern County man has reportedly been found guilty of the human trafficking of a minor.
In a press release, District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer announced that a Kern County jury had returned a guilty verdict against Kendall McDaniel, 31, in connection with an undercover sting operation that caught him attempting to recruit and traffic a 16-year-old girl. The 16-year-old girl he believed he was communicating with was, in fact, an undercover Vice Detective with the Bakersfield Police Department.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, McDaniel communicated from December 6 to December 9 with the “girl,” attempting to recruit her to engage in acts of prostitution. McDaniel reportedly made hundreds of social media posts, through some of which he offered her a home and a vehicle in exchange for engaging in acts of prostitution for him, reportedly stating that “if you trap ryte I’ll have u in a spot and a whip.”
McDaniel also reportedly stated they would “play on 89th,” a reference to a known prostitution spot in Los Angeles County.
On the day that McDaniel was to meet the “girl” at a bus station, he was instead met and arrested by undercover detectives from Bakersfield PD. Additional investigation reportedly revealed that McDaniel had been receiving money from other trafficking victims as well.
This past Monday, August 21, a Kern County jury returned a guilty verdict against McDaniel.
“Human trafficking is one of the fastest growing criminal enterprises in the world,” District Attorney Zimmer commented. “We urge all parents and guardians to keep a close eye on their children, as this case is a reminder that human trafficking is in fact prevalent in our community.”
McDaniel’s sentencing hearing has been set for Tuesday, September 26. He faces up to 24 years in prison.
“[He] deserves the maximum sentence permitted by the law to ensure that no more innocent children become victims of this horrendous crime,” Zimmer said.
