Oakland: Man charged with human trafficking for allegedly threatening teen with firearm

OAKLAND — A Bay Area man has been charged with human trafficking a minor in a case where the alleged victim came forward after the defendant was arrested on unrelated charges, court records show.

Nile Steward, 32, was charged last month with human trafficking a minor, pimping a minor, and pandering by encouraging, court records show. He is being held at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin in lieu of $500,000 bail.

The alleged victim, a teen girl, reported to police last August that Steward was trafficking her. She said they met in a part of Oakland known for prostitution, then connected on social media. Authorities said in court filings that she initially “agreed to work for Steward as a prostitute,” but that he threatened her with a gun when she changed her mind and tried to leave.

The girl didn't come forward out of fear until after Steward had been arrested in an unrelated case, in Santa Clara County, authorities say. Steward was brought to the East Bay from Santa Clara County in January.

Steward's preliminary hearing, where a judge will review evidence against him and decide if there's enough to allow the charges to stand, has been set for Feb. 21.