3 convicted of sex trafficking minor in SLO County’s first multi-jury trial
Three separate juries convicted three defendants of sex trafficking a minor on Thursday.
Joshua Murphy, 27, Tremaine Jones, 32, and Heather Hunt, 32, were arrested and accused of sex-trafficking a 15-year-old girl in January 2021. The girl, identified as Jazmin Doe in court, was reported as missing and at-risk from her Nevada home.
The two-month trial was San Luis Obispo County’s first multiple-jury trial, where more than one jury heard evidence at the same time in the same courtroom.
The only other multiple-jury trial in San Luis Obispo County history was the case against Paul and Ruben Flores in relation to the murder of Kristin Smart, but the trial was run in Monterey County Superior Court.
Murphy, Jones and Hunt were all convicted of human trafficking a minor for the purpose of sex acts and pimping a minor under the age of 21.
Murphy was also found guilty of possession and distribution of child pornography and committing sex acts on a 15-year-old.
The jury did not find that Murphy used force or fear, which allowed him to avoid a potential life prison sentence.
“For criminal defense attorneys, saving a client from a life sentence is considered a resounding victory,” Murphy’s attorney, Addison Steele, told The Tribune in an email. “Mr. Murphy and I are grateful to the jury for their hard work on this long and complex trial. Although we would have liked for him to have been acquitted of all the charges that were not conceded, we are extremely pleased that he is no longer facing life in prison.”
Hunt’s jury, however, did find that she trafficked Jazmin under force or fear, which means she could receive a 15-years-to-life sentence.
“Trafficking a young juvenile for commercial sexual exploitation is outrageous criminal conduct that devastates its victims, leaving wounds for a lifetime, and that’s why we work so hard to combat it here in San Luis Obispo County,” San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow said in a news release. “We honor the young survivor who demonstrated strength and courage during the lengthy process that included testimony in court and rigorous cross examination by three defense attorneys.
San Luis Obispo County Deputy District Attorney Kimberly Dittrich said in her opening arguments that the three defendants “conspired to lure, control and profit from a child that they targeted because of her looks and age.”
Steele, however, argued it was Jazmin who was organizing the sex work business. Both Hunt and Jones’ attorneys argued their clients did not have anything to do with Murphy and Jazmin’s business. All three said they thought Jazmin was 21.
Jazmin’s high school ID card was found during a search warrant of Murphy’s vehicle, Dittrich said.
Investigators caught the operation when they organized a sting operation to catch online sex traffickers.
A detective posed as a potential client and planned to meet Jazmin at Laguna Lake Park. When detectives began to drive Jazmin to the Sheriff’s Office, Murphy followed closely behind and crashed his car into an undercover vehicle.
The three defendants were scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 27.
