Las Vegas residents charged with pimping 16-year-old Utah girl at Costa Mesa motel

Two Las Vegas residents were charged Tuesday with trafficking a 16-year-old Utah girl for sex at a motel in Costa Mesa, police said.

Costa Mesa police officers responded to a report of a fight at the Motel 6 in the 1400 block of Gisler Avenue at about 6:40 a.m. Friday. They contacted Brandon Antwan Hunter and Danielle Beniese Bates, both 31, who were staying in the motel with the girl, authorities said.

Officers spoke to the 16-year-old and determined that she was being “made to prostitute herself and give all her money to Hunter as well as have sexual intercourse with him,” according to Roxi Fyad, a spokeswoman for the Costa Mesa Police Department.

Hunter, who identified himself as a producer, was arrested and booked into Orange County Jail with bail set at $1.025 million, according to jail records. He was charged Tuesday with pimping, pandering, human trafficking and unlawful sex with a minor.

If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of 12 years and eight months in state prison.

Bates was arrested Friday on suspicion of battery and booked into jail with bail set at $250,000. She was charged Tuesday with pimping, pandering and trafficking a minor. Prosecutors allege that Bates also worked for Hunter as a prostitute and recruited other women for him.

She could face up to 12 years in state prison if convicted.

Authorities said Hunter and Bates met the girl in Las Vegas this month and took her to Costa Mesa.

DANIEL LANGHORNE is a contributor to Times Community News.

UPDATES:

3:50 p.m. Nov. 28: This article was updated with the charges filed.

This article was originally published at 4:40 p.m. Nov. 27.