New Charge Added in Human Trafficking Case

This post was reported and written by City News Service.

A new felony charge was added Tuesday against one of two men charged with human trafficking following an investigation by Long Beach police.
Eric James Avery -- who was already charged with one count each of pimping a minor 16 or older and human trafficking of a minor for a sex act -- pleaded not guilty in Long Beach Superior Court to the latest charge of pandering by procuring. 

Avery, 24, and co-defendant Lebrette Winn, 22, both of Long Beach, are due back in court June 4 for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to require them to stand trial.    

Winn is charged with two counts each of pimping and pandering by procuring, along with one count each of human trafficking to commit another crime, sodomy by use of force, forcible rape, mayhem and kidnapping.    

Long Beach police were contacted just before midnight on May 15 by Hawthorne police about two women who said they escaped from someone who kidnapped them in Long Beach and was forcing them to perform acts of prostitution.    

The two said they escaped while they were in Culver City and then made their way to Hawthorne, where they contacted authorities, according to investigators. 

Long Beach police said an investigation was immediately initiated and that one of the two alleged victims "had been held against her will for as long as approximately four months. During the time they were held, they were forced to perform acts of prostitution throughout Los Angeles and Orange counties, and one was sexually assaulted by one of the suspects. The investigation also led Long Beach police to the city of Inglewood, where they located a 16-year-old female victim who was found at a motel,'' according to a Long Beach police statement.   

Avery and Winn were arrested about 7 p.m. May 16 after detectives identified them and pulled them over near Pine Avenue and Bay Street. The two have remained jailed since then.