A man was charged for allegedly forcing an 18-year-old woman into prostitution and physically assaulting her by burning her leg with a blowtorch, prosecutors said Monday.
Richard Jordan Sandoval, 24, has allegedly exploited women for his own financial gain, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
Last Wednesday, Sandoval is accused of assaulting the 18-year-old woman he was in a romantic relationship with. When the woman attempted to run away, Sandoval followed her in his car and threatened her until she got in, and then assaulted her again, prosecutors said.
The next day, he allegedly drove her to a Garden Grove hotel with the intention of using her as a prostitute.
Prosecutors said Sandoval physically attacked the woman, burned her leg with a blowtorch and threatened to kill her if she didn't give in to his demands.
Garden Grove police were called and arrested Sandoval. Officers allegedly found "a large amount of cocaine," scales, empty plastic bags and a blowtorch inside his car.
Sandoval faces felony charges including human trafficking, assault and false imprisonment. He was arraigned Friday, and was being held on $150,000 bail.
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It's unclear if he has an attorney.
If convicted, Sandoval faces a maximum sentence of more than 22 years in state prison, prosecutors said. His is set to appear in court again on July 20.
