(KRON) — A Richmond man who hired a minor for sex in exchange for money became the first person convicted in Contra Costa County under a new California law that targets sex buyers, according to the district attorney’s office.
Cedric Demarcus Kelly, 37, pleaded guilty in court Wednesday to one count of engaging or agreeing to engage in prostitution with a minor, prosecutors said. The victim was a 16-year-old girl.
“The case is notable in that it was prosecuted under an amendment to Penal Code 647b, which became effective on January 1. The amendment now allows prosecutors to charge the buyer with a felony when the minor was induced to engage in commercial sex through trafficking, or when the buyer is more than three years older than the minor,” the DA’s office explained.
On Feb. 21, Richmond Police Department responded to a 911 call from the girl after she had a conflict with her trafficker. She told officers that she had sex for money with Kelly, which led to his arrest.
After Kelly entered a plea agreement on Wednesday, he was sentenced by Contra Costa County Superior Court Judge Michael Nieto to serve 180 days in jail.
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The judge also issued Kelly a nighttime stay-away order from the 23rd Street corridor in Richmond.
District Attorney Diana Becton said, “Contra Costa County’s first felony conviction under the amended Penal Code 647b statute marks a turning point in how we prosecute those who buy sex from minors. This law recognizes that buyers are not bystanders — they are participants in the exploitation of minors.”