A Richmond man has become the first person in Contra Costa County convicted of a felony under a newly strengthened California law aimed at cracking down on those who pay for sex with minors.
Cedric Demarcus Kelly, 37, pleaded guilty to engaging in prostitution with a minor, according to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office. The case marks the first local conviction under a recent amendment to Penal Code 647(b), which took effect Jan. 1, 2026, and allows prosecutors to charge buyers with a felony under certain circumstances involving minors.
Authorities said the case began on Feb. 21, 2026, when Richmond police responded to a 911 call from a 16-year-old girl reporting a dispute with her trafficker. During the investigation, the teen told officers she had engaged in a commercial sex act with Kelly, leading to his arrest. Prosecutors filed charges within days, and Kelly later entered a plea agreement before the case reached a preliminary hearing.
A judge sentenced Kelly to 180 days in county jail and two years of formal probation. As part of the sentence, he is subject to warrantless search conditions for solicitation-related evidence, must stay away from Richmond’s 23rd Street corridor at night, and is required to complete an educational program focused on human trafficking and the exploitation of minors.
District Attorney Diana Becton said the conviction represents a shift in how such cases are prosecuted. She emphasized that the updated law holds buyers accountable as active participants in the exploitation of minors, rather than treating them as passive actors.
The case involved coordination between the Richmond Police Department and the Contra Costa Human Trafficking Task Force, a multi-agency group that works to combat trafficking throughout the county.
Officials encourage anyone with information about potential sex or labor trafficking in Contra Costa County to contact the District Attorney’s Human Trafficking & Workplace Justice Tip Line.
6 months in jail for paying to rape a child? And Diana Becton is bragging about this how great of a job she did. Please.. Give me a break. #DianaBectonisaFAILURE
Dave,
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Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton is putting out her normal propaganda to the public, this time regarding this conviction. She probably allowed her Assistant District Attorneys to again overcharge in order to force the defendant to accept this plea bargain conviction. Blame should be put on Diana Becton for approving this plea bargain and on the judge for accepting this plea bargain.
What about her trafficker? Was he punished also?
doh,
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Great question!!! Did the defendant know that she was underage??? Was the defendant her trafficer??? Where are her parents???
No! California will protect their illegal aliens even if they are sex traffickers, child molesters, rapists, or even killers.
Since you asked,
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How’d you find out that the trafficer is an illegal alien?
The Twilight Zone!!!! In what world are terms like this normalized???? “….those who pay for sex with minors”.
“…..she had engaged in a commercial sex act …..” , <—– It’s called RAPE, SA and Molestation!!! “Sex Buyers”, WTF!?!?!?!?
And WHY IS HE NOT REGISTERED ON MEGANSLAW?????
Anom,
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I believe that it’s legal jargon that’s used in the actual law. The changes were made to this law about 2 years ago.
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It was SB 1414 which changed the punishment for solicitation of a minor from 2 days to 1 year in county jail and up to a $10,000.00 fine to up to 2, 3, or 4 years in state prison, up to a 25,000.00 fine, and registering as a sex offender.
guy buying sex from a minor should definitely go to jail, but the article mentions
“Authorities said the case began on Feb. 21, 2026, when Richmond police responded to a 911 call from a 16-year-old girl reporting a dispute with her trafficker.”
like her pimp?? that guy doesn’t get sent to jail?