STOCKTON (CBS13) ―
A Stockton man has been arrested and accused of forcing young girls into prostitution, and police fear there may be other victims who have yet to be identified.
Detectives from the Stockton Police Department's vice unit have arrested 23-year-old Christopher Chessman on multiple charges of pimping and pandering, allegedly preying on teen girls as young as 13 years old.
They believe Chessman was coming into contact with underage wayward girls both in person and through the internet.
"These girls were taken, they were held and then forced into a life of prostitution," said Stockton Officer Pete Smith.
Court documents say Chessmen beat the young girls, sexually assaulted them and took sexually explicit pictures with his cell phone. Investigators have tracked down at least six victims so far in Stockton, Sacramento and beyond.
Three of the alleged victims were between 13 and 17 years old.
"He was using third-party contact in some cases, direct contact, seeking at-risk kids and kids that come from… stable backgrounds," Officer Smith said.
Authorities also accused Chessman's girlfriend, 22-year-old Adrianna Griffith, of helping him in his criminal activities. Griffith's father says she was enrolled in college and seemed to have a bright future until she met Chessman a few months ago.
Police said the investigation is still ongoing and more arrests are possible.
Stockton Police hope that by releasing Chessman's picture and information about the case, other victims will come forward and contact police.
Anyone with information regarding this incident are asked to call the Stockton Police Department Vice Unit at 209-937-8422 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting & nbsp; &nb sp; 209-937-8422 end_of_the _skype_highlighting
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