Man charged with pimping, sodomizing 17-year-old girl

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly characterized the 17-year-old alleged victim as a prostitute. According to the District Attorney’s Office, the girl was forced into acts of prostitution by the two defendants in the case.

In a case that has already resulted in charges against a Cayucos firefighter, a San Francisco man was charged Thursday with 15 felonies for allegedly pimping a 17-year-old girl, sodomizing her while she was unconscious and coercing her to commit sex acts on film with people and animals.

Richard Scott Brooks, 38, faces life in prison if convicted of the charges, which include human trafficking of a minor, forcible oral copulation, forcible rape, forcible sodomy, pimping a minor, sodomy with an unconscious victim and producing pornography with a minor.

The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office had filed 33 related charges Tuesday against Oscar Higueros Jr., 38, a paid volunteer with the Cayucos Fire Department. While investigating that case, according to a news release from the District Attorney’s Office, Brooks was identified as a second suspect.

Higueros has pleaded not guilty. Brooks appeared in court for an arraignment Thursday afternoon, but that hearing was continued to Sept. 11.

The crimes allegedly occurred July 25, roughly a month after the victim turned 17. According to the criminal complaint, Brooks knowingly made money off the victim. The complaint also alleges he committed sex acts with the victim while she was unconscious and coerced the teen into performing sex acts with people and animals for commercial purposes.

The highest charge, human trafficking, carries a possible sentence of 15 years to life.

The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office is seeking other possible victims and asks for the public’s assistance. Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 781-5800.

This story was originally published September 4, 2014 at 2:55 PM with the headline "Man charged with pimping, sodomizing 17-year-old girl."