Teen Sex Trafficking Victim Rescued In Beaverton Valentine's Day

BEAVERTON, OR — A Portland man was arrested on Valentine's Day in Beaverton following a prostitution sting setup to rescue a 17-year-old sex trafficking victim.

Mario Deshawn Hoggatt, 27, was taken to the Washington County Jail Feb. 14; a Washington County Grand Jury on Feb. 22 indicted Hoggatt, charging him with compelling prostitution, a Class B felony and Measure 11 crime that carries a 5-year, 10-month mandatory minimum sentence — if convicted.

Beaverton police began investigating the sex trafficking case involving the 17-year-old girl Feb. 9. According to Beaverton Police Department spokesman Jeremy Shaw, "Detectives monitoring an online website led to the discovery of this prostitution activity."

After arranging to meet the girl on Valentine's Day, and confirming the girl was there to engage in prostitution, undercover detectives learned Hoggatt was facilitating the interaction.

Hoggatt was immediately arrested by detectives when he and the girl arrived at the arranged meeting place, Shaw said.

First convicted of assault in Multnomah County in 2007 (when he was just 16 years old), Hoggatt has kept Portland metro region law enforcement busy ever since, earning charges for crimes in 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2017.

Anyone with information about this case or any others involving sex trafficking in the Beaverton area is asked to call 503-629-0111 to speak with a Beaverton police officer.

Image via Beaverton Police Department