UPDATE: Authorities have confirmed that a missing juvenile from Riverside County has been found at a hotel in Vallejo, with her suspected kidnapper arrested on-site. The incident unfolded when Vallejo police received urgent notifications from a family member that the child was potentially being held against her will.
Police swiftly acted, locating the juvenile in a hotel room in the 400 block of Fairgrounds Drive. Once on scene, officers initiated immediate questioning to assess her safety and the circumstances surrounding her situation. Records indicate that the child was classified as “considered at high risk for sexual exploitation.”
According to police, the juvenile had been transported through various cities, including Los Angeles, Fresno, Richmond, and ultimately to Vallejo, where she was discovered. Officers gathered critical evidence and conducted interviews that revealed the juvenile had met the alleged perpetrator, Justen Allen Powell, a 26-year-old from Fresno, in Southern California. Investigators reported that the juvenile was subjected to sexual assault and prevented from leaving through intimidation and coercive control.
The Vallejo Police Chief, Jason Ta, highlighted the seriousness of human trafficking, stating, “This is a serious crime that affects communities throughout our region, and Vallejo is not immune.”
The juvenile is now safe and has been placed in the custody of Solano County Child Protective Services. Meanwhile, Powell has been arrested and is currently booked at the Solano County Jail. He faces multiple felony charges, including pimping and pandering, corporal injury to a child, false imprisonment with violence, kidnapping, and unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor.
Vallejo authorities are urging anyone with information about this case or other suspected human trafficking incidents to come forward. You can report tips by calling 911 or the Vallejo Police Department Communications Division at (707) 552-3285. Anonymous tips can also be submitted at 1-800-488-9383.
The community is reminded of the critical importance of vigilance as authorities continue to combat human trafficking and protect vulnerable individuals. Stay tuned for more updates as this investigation unfolds.
