Man convicted of human trafficking of Bakersfield teen, stranding her in Fresno

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A man has been convicted of trafficking a Bakersfield 16-year-old for sex across California and even abandoning her for a week in Fresno, the Kern County District Attorney’s Office said.

A Kern County jury on Wednesday found Rico Herring, 32, guilty of human trafficking of a minor with an enhancement that he used force, fear or coercion during the trafficking, pandering or pimping of a minor, according to a release.

Prosecutors said Herring began contact with a 16-year-old Bakersfield girl in December 2022. Days later, Herring got the teen a bus ticket to meet him in Sacramento.

Herring advertised the teen online and sold her for sex across the state, prosecutors said. After about a week, prosecutors say, the teen told Herring she wanted to stop, but Herring assaulted her and even stranded her for a week in Fresno.

Prosecutors argued Herring then picked up the teen in Fresno and brought her back to Sacramento where she was forced to commit multiple sex acts for money a day. Herring also threatened to kill the teen and a family member, the DA’s office said.

Other evidence presented at trial showed Herring also trafficked additional victims.

Herring is due to be sentenced on May 30 and faces 15 years to life in prison.

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