The Kern County Sheriff’s Office has taken a man into custody after he was located in west Bakersfield Monday evening.

The full release can be seen below:

On February 14, 2022, detectives with the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit, in coordination with members of HIDTA, Metropolitan Patrol, and the Alliance Against Family Violence, conducted an operation related to an ongoing human trafficking of a minor investigation.

During the operation, Kajuan Richardson (age 25) was arrested on a warrant for human trafficking of a minor and sexual intercourse with a minor. Following the arrest, a search warrant was served at Richardson’s residence. Multiple open charges were added against Richardson including pimping/pandering of juvenile victims, possession of a loaded firearm by a felon, and drug sales. Richardson was arrested in the company of two females, including one juvenile.

Three victims of human trafficking were identified during this investigation. An additional female juvenile victim was being solicited by Richardson to become a prostitute.

Anyone with further information is asked to contact KCSO at (661) 861-3110 or Secret Witness at (661) 322-4040.