Oakland human trafficking case thrown out over ‘lack of cooperating witness’

OAKLAND — Prosecutors here have dismissed a human trafficking case against a 22-year-old man who was accused of pimping a teen girl, court records show.

Jeremiah Means, of Oakland, was charged in August with human trafficking, pimping, and pandering. But two months later, in late October, prosecutors in Alameda County moved to dismiss the case due to a “lack of cooperating witness,” according to a minute order from the hearing where the charges were dropped.

At the time of the dismissal, Means had been out of jail on his own recognizance for about six weeks, according to court records.

At the time of Means’ arrest, police said they obtained text message conversations between Means and the girl showing a “pimp and prostitute relationship.” They alleged that Means met the girl on Instagram and drove out of the Bay Area to meet in person and take her back to Oakland.