The Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse in Downtown Long Beach. File photo.
The Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse in Downtown Long Beach. File photo.

UPDATE | Patrick Lamont Harris pleaded not guilty Tuesday to sexually abusing a minor for almost a month.

27-year-old Harris is facing four felony counts, including committing a lewd act on a child, human trafficking a minor, pimping a minor under 16 years of age and pandering by encouraging a minor under age 16, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced today.

Harris has been held on $1.7 million bail since his arrest and has two prior convictions of second-degree robbery from 2005 and 2009, according to the DA’s Office. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, April 6. 

If convicted, Harris faces possible life in prison, the DA’s Office said. 

The Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) is investigating the case. 

City News Service contributed to this report. 

PREVIOUSLY: Man Charged with Human Trafficking and Abuse of Teenager in Long Beach

3/11/16 at 4:06PM | Today, a 27-year-old man was charged with trafficking a minor for sex and sexually abusing the teenage girl for nearly a month, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced this afternoon.

His arrest came as the result of a sting operation, where investigators located the minor and the defendant.

The man, Patrick Lamont Harris was charged with seven felony counts, including four counts of lewd act upon a child and one count each of human trafficking of a minor for a commercial sex act, pimping a minor under 16 years of age and pandering by encouraging a minor under the age of 16, according to the DA Office.

The defendant, who was also allegedly convicted of second-degree robbery in 2005 and 2009, will be arraigned later today in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Long Beach Branch. Prosecutors will reportedly ask that bail be set at $1.73 million.

According to prosecutors, Harris allegedly met the girl in February, committing lewd acts on her from February 15 to March 9, before allegedly pimping her out and driving her to various locations so she could perform sex acts with men.

The sting operation uncovered the minor on March 9, resulting in locating and arresting the defendant. If convicted, Harris faces a life sentence in prison, the DA’s Office said.

The Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) is investigating the case.