Prosecution seeks life in prison for man who pimped Los Osos teen

A man convicted of prostituting a Los Osos teen he met through Craigslist should be sentenced to 62 years to life in prison, according to the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office.

In November, a jury convicted Richard Scott Brooks, 40, of 19 felonies, including forcible rape, pimping and human trafficking. According to trial testimony, Brooks, a homeless person from the Bay Area, posted a Craigslist ad in July 2014 that drew a response from a 17-year-old girl in Los Osos. While the girl’s mother and younger sister were out of state, she drove to the Bay Area and brought Brooks back to her Los Osos home, where the two had sexual relations over a four-day span. During that time, Brooks also pimped the girl out to another man, jurors concluded.

Brooks is set to be sentenced Tuesday in San Luis Obispo Superior Court. In a sentencing memorandum filed with the court, deputy district attorney Greg Devitt argues for a life term.

“Society needs to be protected from defendant who repeatedly sexually assaulted a 17-year-old girl, then prostituted her to a strange man all from the convenience of a residence hidden away from the public and with such ease via the online community,” Devitt wrote.

During the trial, defense attorney Matt Guerrero argued that both Brooks and the girl were “sexual libertines” who lacked moral boundaries and restraints. The teen, Guerrero argued, pursued the sexual activity with Brooks and told him she was 18. After Brooks left, according to trial testimony, she sent him a text declaring her love for him.

But, Devitt argued, the teen was vulnerable because she had been molested as a child by her grandfather. During the trial, it was revealed that the grandfather committed suicide when the teen reported the abuse. The abuse allegations also caused a rift in the family, according to testimony, and the teen’s father became estranged from the teen.

“The insidiousness of (Brooks’) crimes demonstrate his abject desire to take advantage of a young person who had already been broken down physically and mentally by her own grandfather who repeatedly molested her at a very early age,” Devitt wrote.

Brooks, he continued, had sex with the girl even after she was passed out drunk.

Brooks has a prior conviction from New York for possessing child pornography.

Devitt requests that the different sentences for the convictions be imposed consecutively to maximize Brooks’ time in prison.

“Defendant is deserving of consecutive sentencings because he is a person who repeatedly sexually abused a girl, taking advantage of her vulnerabilities and using her body for his own twisted sexual desires and financial gain,” Devitt wrote.

Oscar Higueros, who allegedly paid Brooks $150 to have sex with the teen, has been charged with 33 offenses. His trial is set for Jan. 11.

This story was originally published January 2, 2016 at 2:10 PM with the headline "Prosecution seeks life in prison for man who pimped Los Osos teen."