Clearlake man facing trial in human trafficking case
- Lake County News reports
- Posted On
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Clearlake man has been ordered to stand trial in a 2017 human trafficking case.
On Thursday, July 19, Timothy Lee Williams, 53, was held to answer by Judge David Markham on charges of human trafficking, pimping, pandering and abuse of a dependent adult dating back to August of 2017, according to District Attorney Don Anderson.
In two separate cases, Timothy Williams is alleged to have used four women in a criminal enterprise involving using women for human trafficking, pimping and pandering them into prostitution.
It is alleged that in one case, a 22-year-old developmentally disabled woman was coerced into prostitution by Williams, After performing several different sexual acts at the direction of Williams all of the money was kept by Williams for his own personal use, Anderson said.
Anderson said Williams’ criminal enterprise was brought to an end by investigators from the Lake County District Attorney’s Office when they conducted an undercover sting operation in Clearlake Oaks.
During the sting operation undercover agents met a potential prostitute at a local motel. The woman offered the agents certain sex acts for money. At that time she was detained for questioning, Anderson said.
After further investigation and questioning, Anderson said it was learned that she was in fact a victim of human trafficking.
Anderson said Williams was arrested in the parking lot by other agents from the District Attorney’s Office as he waited for the victim and money. Further investigations that night have led to two other victims working for Williams.
Anderson is prosecuting the case, while Williams is being defended by attorney Thomas Feimer.
Williams is next scheduled to appear in Lake County Superior Court on July 31, Anderson said.
“It is very unfortunate that suspects engaging in human trafficking often find women victims that are young or very vulnerable,” Anderson said. “We have found some victims in other cases that are being recruited while still in high school. We are making a plea to teachers, counselor, women’s groups and advocates, as well as parents to become aware of the signs of human trafficking and that this is a serious problem in our community. In this year alone we have identified at least 13 victims of human trafficking in Lake County, but know that are much more. The District Attorney’s Office is committed on investigating and prosecuting these types of crimes with all means possible.”