The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
On Christmas day, a high school soccer coach was placed under arrest for suspicion of human trafficking two teenage girls when he was found in the company of the young women after one of them called the authorities for help.
At nearly 3am on Monday, 911 received a call from a 17-year-old girl who reported that she was hiding from a man in a nearby vehicle who was waiting for her. She claimed that the man, identified as 34-year-old Elan Seagraves, had sexually assaulted her and forced her into prostitution.
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department dispatched deputies to the scene where they located the girl in the yard, and they found Seagraves parked in a car nearby. They discovered a second teenage girl, also 17, sitting in the vehicle with Seagraves. Authorities posit they are both victims of human trafficking.
Seagraves, the Kennedy High School boys soccer coach, was taken into custody and held at the Sacramento County Main Jail. At his arraignment on Wednesday Seagraves was charged with three felonies including pandering, false imprisonment and human trafficking. His bail was set at $2 million and he is awaiting a bail review on January 4, and a settlement conference which will take place at the Sacramento Superior Court on January 9.
Upon learning of the charges, Sacramento City School District relieved Seagraves from his position as coach.
Seagraves was also employed as a driver with the ride services Uber and Lyft, and when he was hired he reportedly passed the background checks and showed no prior convictions. Since he was charged he has been blocked from providing service for both companies.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a sex crime, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.