Nestor Alexis Aguirre Chavez, 20, of Wilmington was arrested last week following an investigation by the Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force.

Along with the trafficking count, Chavez is charged with pimping, pandering, contacting a minor for the purpose of perpetrating a sex crime and a sentence-enhancing allegation of inducing a minor to engage in criminal activity.

He pleaded not guilty during an arraignment before Superior Court Judge Judith Clark, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for Dec. 17 at the Riverside Hall of Justice.

Chavez is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside.

According to Investigator Joseph Riddle of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, on Nov. 23, deputies were alerted that a 15-year-old girl was missing from her residence near Temecula.

The matter was referred to the Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, which initiated an investigation that determined the victim was in Long Beach, where Chavez had allegedly put her to work as a prostitute after sexually assaulting her, Riddle said.

The defendant and victim, whose identity was not disclosed, had apparently met via social media.

The girl was found and taken to a hospital for treatment, after which she was placed in protective custody.

A search warrant was served on Chavez at his residence on East Rubidoux Street, where he was taken into custody without incident Friday.

Riddle said the case highlights how “predators … utilize social media platforms frequented by children and young adults to prey on their emotional and circumstantial vulnerabilities.”

“Parents are reminded to be vigilant and monitor the social media platforms used by their children,” the sergeant said.

Chavez has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

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