The mother of the 13-year-old Eastside girl who was reportedly molested by three different men was arrested for prostitution yesterday, according to police. It is not believed that the victim was involved in any prostitution.
While heading to the girl’s residence to check on a potential fourth incidence of her being molested — nothing substantial came out of the investigation — detectives saw the victim’s mother, 39, dressed in a negligee while a man who was not the girl’s father left the house. Upon spotting the detectives, the woman quickly went back inside. Because this was the second time that officers had seen the mother — whose name is being withheld to protect her daughter’s privacy — dressing and acting in such a way, they suspected her of prostitution.
The man who was leaving the house, 24-year-old Ventura resident Kevin Gutierrez Manzo, confirmed to the detectives that he had paid the victim’s mother for sex. Although the woman denied doing so — saying that she gave massages — the officers found her escort listing on backpage.com as well as further evidence of prostitution inside the residence.
Manzo was released after being charged with a misdemeanor. The girl’s mother was arrested for misdemeanor prostitution and booked into County Jail at $2,500 bail.
Police said that the girl wasn’t present at the time of her mother’s arrest, and that Child Welfare Services has been notified of the recent events.