Berkeley man gets 34 years to life for human trafficking

A 29-year-old Berkeley man was sentenced today in a Redwood City courtroom to 34 years to life following a conviction for trafficking a minor, San Mateo County prosecutors said. A 29-year-old Berkeley man was sentenced today in a Redwood City courtroom to 34 years to life following a conviction for trafficking a minor, San Mateo County prosecutors said. Photo: Bill Hutchinson / The Chronicle Photo: Bill Hutchinson / The Chronicle Image 1 of / 28 Caption Close Berkeley man gets 34 years to life for human trafficking 1 / 28 Back to Gallery

REDWOOD CITY (BCN)

A 29-year-old Berkeley man was sentenced today in a Redwood City courtroom to 34 years to life following a conviction for trafficking a minor, San Mateo County prosecutors said.

Between at least Oct. 1 and Dec. 10, 2015, Matthew Graves arranged for his 16-year-old girlfriend to have sex with others.

According to prosecutors, on Dec. 8, 2015, Graves and a woman picked up his girlfriend in Richmond and took her to the Red Roof Inn in Burlingame to engage in prostitution.

Graves used marijuana, cocaine and alcohol and became upset and paranoid. Prosecutors said he then accused his girlfriend of working with police.

Graves punched his girlfriend multiple times and kicked her. The woman also threw a chair at the girl, prompting her to run from the motel room.

Prosecutors said staff at the hotel told her to take a shuttle to San Francisco International Airport where she went to police and told them of the assault.

Airport police took her to Mills-Peninsula Medical Center. She had bruising to her eyes, arms and shoulders and hospital officials called Burlingame police who started an investigation.

Prosecutors said an investigation revealed that Graves had several photos and prostitution ads on his cellphone.

San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said a human trafficking conviction results in a sentence of up to 15 years to life. But because Graves had a prior felony strike, his sentenced was doubled and a charge of dissuading a witness added four years to Graves' time.

"This is evil conduct," Wagstaffe said. "Human trafficking is modern day slavery."

Graves' attorney Paul Demeester was not immediately available for comment.

Wagstaffe said Graves will have to register as a sex offender for life. Prosecutors said they were unable to identify the woman who was involved in the crime.