A Richmond man was convicted under a new law for hiring a trafficked minor for sex, marking Contra Costa’s first felony case under the statute. (Special to Bay City News/BortN66)

Prosecutors in Contra Costa County used a new “sex buyer” law to successfully prosecute a Richmond resident as a felon for hiring an underage girl who was being trafficked for sex, the District Attorney’s Office said Wednesday.  

Cedric Demarcus Kelly, 37, pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of engaging or agreeing to engage in prostitution with a minor.  

According to prosecutors, the case is notable in that it was prosecuted under an amendment to the penal code which became effective on Jan. 1 and allows prosecutors to criminally charge buyers with a felony if the sex worker was trafficked or if the buyer is more than three years older than the trafficked victim.  

Kelly paid for sex from a 16-year-old girl. In February, the child called 911 to report a conflict with the person who was trafficking her and police learned of Kelly’s actions with her, prosecutors said.  

Kelly was sentenced to nearly six months in county jail and two years of formal probation. He must also stay away from the 23rd Street corridor in Richmond and complete a course on human trafficking and the exploitation of minors.  

“Contra Costa County’s first felony conviction under the amended Penal Code 647(b) statute marks a turning point in how we prosecute those who buy sex from minors,” District Attorney Diana Becton said. “This law recognizes that buyers are not bystanders — they are participants in the exploitation of minors. We are grateful to the Richmond Police Department and the Contra Costa Human Trafficking Task Force for their swift response and thorough work on this case.”

Katy St. Clair got her start in journalism by working in the classifieds department at the East Bay Express during the height of alt weeklies, then sweet talked her way into becoming staff writer, submissions editor, and music editor. She has been a columnist in the East Bay Express, SF Weekly, and the San Francisco Examiner. Starting in 2015, she begrudgingly scaled the inverted pyramid at dailies such as the Vallejo Times-Herald, The Vacaville Reporter, and the Daily Republic. She has her own independent news site and blog that covers the delightfully dysfunctional town of Vallejo, California, where she also collaborates with the investigative team at Open Vallejo. A passionate advocate for people with developmental disabilities, she serves on both the Board of the Arc of Solano and the Arc of California. She lives in Vallejo.