Beaverton “pimp” sentenced to more than 6 years in prison

Julius Mitchell was sentenced to more than six years in prison for promoting prostitution and other charges. June 5, 2024 (courtesy Washington County District Attorney's Office).

PORTLAND, OregonKOIN) — A man was sentenced Wednesday to 80 months in prison after pleading guilty to promoting prostitution in Washington County.

Julius Lavant Mitchell, 21, pleaded guilty in late May to several charges stemming from a Beaverton Police Department human trafficking operation conducted the previous month, the Washington County District Attorney's Office said.

On April 20, Beaverton detectives posed as online sex buyers. They then observed the woman they were communicating with exit Mitchell's vehicle at the discussed meeting point. There was also a juvenile in the car, authorities said.

Beaverton police then stopped the car after it left the scene.

“The defendant, who was already a convicted felon at the time and had recently served prison time in Washington state after being convicted of second-degree robbery and second-degree assault, was driving the vehicle,” authorities said. “Investigators found a juvenile in the car, a handgun, significant quantities of cocaine and dexamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and nearly $2,000 in cash.”

The woman confirmed to investigators that she was involved in prostitution and identified Mitchell as her “pimp.” Authorities also said “digital evidence” they examined from Mitchell and the woman's phone also confirmed it.

The prosecutor's office said Mitchell made phone calls from inside the Washington County Jail that further incriminated him, including urging his acquaintances “to convince the minor to pretend the drugs belonged to him rather than to the accused” and asking people to “persuade the woman to deny that he was her pimp” over the threats of violence he would make if she did not do so.

Mitchell was convicted of illegal delivery of cocaine, promoting prostitution, criminal possession of a firearm and witness tampering.