David Bernard Anderson II, charged with the sexual assault and false imprisonment of a 16-year-old Eureka girl in December 2018, pleaded guilty this morning to four felony charges and agreed to a five-year term behind bars.
Anderson, 49, has already been in jail for two years, and with good-time credit will have more than three years of credit against the five-year term. He was previously convicted of sex-trafficking another young woman.
Today he admitted to two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, one count of false imprisonment using force or fear and one count of attempted pandering, defined as procuring a person for the purposes of prostitution.
Anderson waived his right to appeal. He may have to register as a sex offender, but that issue will not be argued until his sentencing on March 16.
“I’m the one who has to make that call,” Judge Christopher Wilson told Anderson during the plea hearing. Anderson was on video from the jail, and his attorney, Michael Acosta, appeared via Zoom.
Anderson held the teenager captive in his Eureka apartment, taking away her clothing and cellphone. She escaped, wearing Anderson’s clothing, when he went to the store to buy her some cigarettes.
At one point Anderson reportedly told the girl “I could make a lot of money off you.”
As part of the plea agreement four charges were dismissed, including a count of rape.
“In reaching this resolution,” Deputy District Attorney Stacey Eads said, “a great deal of consideration has been given to the physical, mental and emotional well-being of Jane Doe. In no way am I suggesting that she was not strong or prepared to proceed through this trial. But nonetheless, I think this is in her best interest.”
Anderson’s trial had been scheduled to start today, with a panel of prospective jurors already summoned.
Anderson also admitted that in 2018 he violated the terms of his Post Release Community Supervision program. Eads said Anderson gave his program manager an address “where he kept a few belongings” rather than the address where he lived. It’s possible he could receive an additional 180-day term for that crime, though it has not been determined whether that will be added to the five-year term or served concurrently.
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PREVIOUSLY:
- Eureka Police Arrest Man on Human Trafficking, Sexual Assault Charges
- Eureka Man Accused of Rape, Human Trafficking of a Minor Appears in Court; Preliminary Hearing in the Case Set for Day After Christmas
- COURT ROUNDUP: DA Alleges Fatal Humboldt Hill Collision Suspect Bailed Out With Illegal Weed Money
- TODAY in COURT: Latest on the Rio Dell, Manila, Hikshari Trail Murder Cases; Trial of Accused Eureka Sex Trafficker Delayed
- TODAY in COURT: Sex Trafficking Suspect Gets to Keep Lawyer, Who Faces His Own Criminal Charges; Eureka, Rio Dell Killings Also on Docket
- Virtual Preliminary Hearing Set Up for Eureka Man Accused of Sex Abuse, Trafficking; Proceedings Will Be Broadcast on YouTube
- TODAY in COURT: Preliminary Hearing for Eureka Sex Trafficking Suspect Underway
- Judge Drops Sex Trafficking Charges Against Accused Eureka Man; Suspect Will Still Stand Trial for Rape and Sodomy of a Minor
- TODAY in COURT: Date Set for Attorney’s Suit Against Judge for Alleged Abuse; Rio Dell Murder Suspect Heading to Trial Next Month
- TODAY in COURT: Accused West Del Norte Shooter Pleads Not Guilty; Sex Trafficking Suspect Hopes for Deal; Waterfront Murder Trial Delayed Again