Woman charged in human trafficking case reaches plea agreement; co-defendant awaiting preliminary hearing
- Lake County News reports
- Posted On
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Lakeport woman arrested earlier this year in a human trafficking case reached a plea agreement with the Lake County District Attorney’s Office.
On Tuesday, Krystina Marie Pickersgill, 28, pleaded guilty to one count of human trafficking, according to District Attorney Don Anderson.
She was arrested along with her husband, Sam Lindsey Massette, 37, on June 5 in a case in which authorities said the couple had sold teen girls into prostitution, transporting them from Lake County to the Bay Area, as Lake County News has reported.
Under an agreement with Anderson, Pickersgill will receive three years of probation, credit for the four months previously served and strict mental health treatment.
Pickersgill faces up to 12 years in prison if she does not complete the terms of her probation, Anderson said.
Anderson explained to the court that at the time Pickersgill met Massette she was on medication for mental health issues. It was the position of the District Attorney that Massette took her off her medication then coerced her into prostituting for him.
It’s Anderson’s belief that Pickersgill initially was a victim of human trafficking and later became a willing participant.
“I hope Krystina can receive the necessary treatment and help to restore her life to normalcy and she can leave her past life behind,” he said.
The investigation into the case started after the play “Jane Doe in Wonderland” was performed at the Soper-Reese Theatre in Lakeport in April.
“Jane Doe in Wonderland” is a play about human trafficking, the way traffickers work and the effects on the victims.
After the play, a victim of Massette and Pickersgill approached Anderson, who was a speaker at the play, and told him she was a victim of human trafficking.
The investigation led to the service of a search warrant at Massette and Pickersgill’s Lakeport home, Anderson said. There, they were taken into custody for human trafficking for the purposes of prostitution.
Anderson said initial investigations revealed Massette and Pickersgill ran a high class human trafficking ring, using Lake County girls, and working primarily out of San Francisco.
Subsequent investigations and the service of 26 search warrants by the District Attorney’s Office human trafficking investigators have discovered at least five victims of human trafficking for prostitution, pimping and pandering, Anderson said.
Anderson alleges that Massette and Pickersgill recruited the girls at an early age while they were still in high school. He also alleged that in 2006 Massette trafficked two minors ages 16 and 17 for prostitution. Some of the victims were coerced and threatened to perform acts of prostitution.
Massette, who rejected a plea agreement for 20 years in prison offered by Anderson, is awaiting a preliminary hearing set for Oct. 17.
He is facing 10 counts of human trafficking, pimping, pandering and conspiracy. Anderson said Massette is facing a maximum sentence of approximately 37 years to life.
In addition to her sentence, Pickersgill has waived all her interest in property seized by the District Attorney’s Office pursuant to the Profits Organized Crime Act. Seized by the District Attorney’s Office was $14,530 cash and four vehicles valued at more than $300,000.
Anderson said his office considers human trafficking cases to be extremely serious.
“We will make every effort to free these victims from those who force them into prostitution against their will and help give them a new start in life,” he said. “We are requesting any information the public may have regarding human trafficking or if you suspect any child is being recruited for trafficking.”
The District Attorney’s Office can be reached at 707-263-2251.