A San Rafael sex-trafficking suspect could face a 12-year prison sentence in a case that exists because he parked his SUV illegally.

Kenneth McDaniel, 24, has pleaded not guilty to the charges. A preliminary hearing of the evidence is scheduled for March 14 before Judge Geoffrey Howard.

“Mr. McDaniel maintains his innocence and plans to fight the charges,” said his defense attorney, Peter Kuykendall.

The case started in August after a San Rafael police officer approached a vehicle that was blocking a driveway near the 7-Eleven in the Canal area. The officer found a 16-year-old girl in the car along with a box of condoms and marijuana.

Three men came out of the 7-Eleven, and police identified McDaniel as the driver. Police searched all three men because they were on probation or parole. McDaniel had about $1,900 in cash and said it was gambling winnings.

In an interview at the scene, the girl told police she had asked McDaniel to bring her to San Rafael to sell sex. McDaniel denied any such plans.

“All I know is that she jumped in the car with us and stated that she wanted to go to San Francisco and chill,” McDaniel said, according to the prosecution affidavit. He told police he thought the girl was 20 years old.

Police cited McDaniel for the parking violation and released him pending further investigation. They took the girl away for more interviews.

The teen told authorities she ran away from her home in Lake County. She said her mother and her mother’s boyfriend are methamphetamine users.

The teen said she met McDaniel at a party and she considered him to be her boyfriend. She had his initials tattooed on her hand and chest, the affidavit said.

“She and the defendant talked about the victim working as a prostitute to make money and pay for stable housing,” the affidavit said. McDaniel allegedly drove her to the clients’ homes and collected the money.

Later, investigators searched the teen’s phone data and found evidence she was visiting prostitution websites and setting up sex appointments.

“Defendant’s phone contact was saved in the victim’s phone as ‘Daddy,’” the affidavit said, referring to McDaniel.

In October, the prosecution charged McDaniel with human trafficking and a prostitution-related count. It obtained an arrest warrant with a bail amount of $150,000.

Marin authorities picked him up last week at the Sonoma County Jail, where he was recently sentenced in a drug case, said prosecutor Brian Staebell.

McDaniel has at least five prior convictions in Sonoma County, including battery, drunken driving and possession of tear gas, according to the court affidavit.