SLO Police Arrest Fourth Suspect in Human Trafficking Case

UPDATE

A fourth suspect has been arrested in a Human Trafficking case out of San Luis Obispo County. 19-year-old Elijah Joel Wolfson of Manteca was taken into custody. Wolfson allegedly was involved in trafficking a 15-year-old girl for commercial sex acts in Santa Cruz, Pismo Beach, and San Luis Obispo, along with Brianna Day Morales, 20, Fabio Bettencourt, 20, and a 16-year-old male suspect.

The 16-year-old suspect will be charged as an adult.

Three of the defendants were arraigned on Friday. Morales will be arraigned on August 12.

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ORIGINAL STORY

San Luis Obispo police arrested three individuals after receiving a call from the Manteca Police Department that a 15-year-old Manteca girl was being held against her will inside a hotel room in the 1800 block of Monterey Street.

Brianna Day Morales, 20, Fabio Bettencourt, 20, both from Chico, CA, and a 16-year-old male teen from Manteca were all arrested on Tuesday, and booked with multiple charges.

During the initial investigation, SLOPD officers were advised that the teen may have been the victim of human trafficking, and the suspects holding her were possibly armed.

Officers said that they in fact located the missing teen inside the hotel, alone and terrified. She was taken to the police department and given a health evaluation. She was reunited with her family.

Detectives believe that the victim was forced into acts of prostitution by the 16-year-old suspect in other cities north of San Luis Obispo. “The victim continued to be forced into acts of prostitution throughout San Luis Obispo County,” said Lt. John Bledsoe with SLOPD. “The investigation revealed suspects Morales and Silveira were also involved in the conspiracy to exploit the victim into prostitution.”

At about 3:20 p.m. on July 28, Morales was spotted on the passenger seat of a vehicle in the 200 block of Santa Rosa Street and was quickly apprehended. Almost an hour later, Silveira and the 16-year-old teen suspect returned to the hotel on Monterey Street where they were also taken into custody.

The 16 year old male juvenile was booked into Juvenile Services Center with the following charges:

1. PC 236.1 (C) (2) Human Trafficking
2. PC 267 Abduction for Purposes of Prostitution
3. PC 236 False Imprisonment
4. PC 182 (a) (1) Criminal Conspiracy

Morales was booked into SLO County Jail with the following charges:

1. PC 236.1 (C) (2) Human Trafficking
2. PC 267 Abduction for Purposes of Prostitution
3. PC 236 False Imprisonment
4. PC 182 (a) (1) Criminal Conspiracy
5. PC 273 a Child Endangerment
(Bail set at $100,000.)

Silveira was booked into SLO County Jail with the following charges:

1. PC 236.1 (C) (2) Human Trafficking
2. PC 182 (a) (1) Criminal Conspiracy
(Bail set at $70,000.)

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call the SLO Police Department at 805-781-7317.