Man arrested for holding woman in sexual servitude for 5 years

On January 22nd, the Randolph County Sheriff's Office received a tip from the National Human Trafficking Tip Line concerning a possible case of trafficking within their jurisdiction.

The same day, officers made contact with the reported victim and conducted an interview.  A warrant was obtained for the suspect's arrest and he was taken into custody without incident.

48 year old Salvador Espinoza Escobar was booked into the Randolph County Detention Center on a single charge of Felony Human Trafficking.  His bond was set at $100,000.

According to a statement released by the Randolph County Sheriff's Office on Facebook, Escobar "is accused of holding a person in sexual servitude by withholding basic needs in exchange for forced sexual acts since January 2015."

Chief Deputy Col. Aundrea Azelton said that members of the sheriffs department recently received training on how to spot signs of human trafficking as it is not something often reported in their area.  According to reports, this is the first case of human trafficking charged through the Randolph County Sheriff's Office.

"Not every case of human trafficking is the same. There are so many forms of human trafficking that each case is different. We learn something new in each case we investigate," Azelton said. "Traffickers and handlers are artful in finding the weaknesses and vulnerabilities of their victims. and using that against them."

Escobar has posted bond and is due back in court on February 12th for a probable cause hearing.