An underage sex trafficking victim was rescued after authorities broke up an underground party in Palmdale, California. Officials said that party organizers broke into a vacant home and brazenly used a rental truck to load in equipment for the party.
The organizers advertised the event on Instagram, offering tickets for as low as $5.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office learned of the party and shut it down in accordance with California's ban on large gatherings. They found over 100 people inside, many of who were not wearing masks or social distancing. The organizers even hired a videographer to record the party.
They arrested 158 people, including 35 juveniles. They seized six weapons and over $400 in cash. They also rescued a 17-year-old girl who was believed to be a "commercially sexually exploited child." Officials said they had no information that the girl was going to be at the party before the raid.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said that even without the coronavirus restrictions, the party would have still be considered an illegal gathering.
"As you can see, this was a flagrant violation of the governor's health order. But also, please understand that even without the health order, these actions were criminal in nature," Villanueva said during a press conference.
He said that the party was organized by five teenagers, and they are suspected of hosting similar parties in other parts of the state. They are facing burglary charges in addition to the charges related to hosting the illegal party. Every person in attendance was charged with misdemeanor offenses of trespassing and violating the pandemic health order.
Villanueva said that his office is monitoring social media and will shut down other parties that are held in defiance of the state's ban on large gatherings.
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