Ukiah high school student suspected of prostitution

A high school student is suspected of being among a group of young women engaging in prostitution in Ukiah.

The student, 18, was arrested earlier this month at a motel, where she planned to meet a paying client for sex, said Ukiah Police Capt. Trent Taylor. She has not yet been charged and her name is not being released to protect the integrity of the investigation, Taylor said. The young woman had been working as a prostitute for at least six months, he said. He did not know whether she had been underage during that time.

Ukiah High officials said they knew nothing about the incident before Tuesday, when they heard it on radio news reports.

“It comes as a shock. We’re looking into it,” Assistant Principal Chris Francis said.

Police believe there are other young women involved in prostitution in the area. Taylor did not reveal why police suspect there are others.

Prostitution is uncommon in Ukiah, a town of about 15,000. “There have been occasional issues with that but on a pretty small scale,” Taylor said.

Police are releasing no other information at this time. “We’re in the middle of this thing,” Taylor said.

Taylor asks that anyone with information about prostitution activities in Ukiah contact the police department at 463-6262.

You can reach Staff Writer Glenda Anderson at 462-6473 or glenda.anderson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @MendoReporter