A city lifeguard made “a different kind of rescue” when he helped a sex trafficking victim at Mission Beach that led to an arrest of a man who was involved in sex trafficking, the U.S. Attorney said on July 25.

A victim approached a San Diego lifeguard to ask for help on Sept. 12, 2023, at Mission Beach and told him she was trafficked from Las Vegas and wanted help. The lifeguard immediately notified San Diego Police, said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath.

As a result, David Warren, 37, of Las Vegas, was arrested and sentenced on July 25 to 10 years in federal prison for transportation for purposes of prostitution and coercion and enticement of three women.

Warren pleaded guilty to transportation of the women across state lines for purposes of prostitution which involved interstate commerce and coercion and enticement of the victims in a total of five felonies.

Warren read a letter of apology to U.S. District Court Judge Janis L. Sammartino before she was handed down 10 years in federal prison. She also ordered him to register as a sex offender in whatever community he resides in after he is released.

“Profiteers exploit victims of human trafficking anywhere they can take advantage, even on the beach in daylight,” said McGrath.

“This brave woman saved herself and others by trusting a San Diego lifeguard who immediately jumped into action,” said McGrath. The lifeguard was not identified.

Warren had taken all three women to various beaches to solicit men as customers for prostitution. McGrath said the other two women were found in motels after the first woman contacted the lifeguard.

“This circumstance was not the typical rescue our lifeguards perform,” said Marine Safety Capt. Maureen Hodges. “However, we were glad to be of service and keep this victim safe while notifying San Diego Police that she needed assistance.”

Warren’s plea agreement says that he transported the first victim from Las Vegas to San Diego while “highly intoxicated, apparently homeless, and had no phone.”

The second victim was threatened in 2023 and was told by Warren he would break her jaw, “tie her up for the whole weekend, and feed her out of a dog bowl,” according to court records.

Warren’s attorney, Heather Beugen, agreed with prosecutors to recommend a 10-year term, telling the judge that “a 10-year sentence is a fair and just punishment in this case.”

“Mr. Warren is going to be subject to a lifetime requirement of sex-offender registry in any state where he lives,” wrote his attorney, adding “his neighbors will be able to learn that he is on the sex-offender registry list with nothing more than a click of a key on a computer keyboard.”

“Mr. Warren is remorseful for the hurt his actions caused the victims and is ashamed of himself,” said Beugen.

New San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said his department is “a proud member of the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force” which assisted in the case. “The suspect in this case used violence and manipulation to control his victims,” said Wahl.

“We must work together across every level of government and society to help bring human trafficking to an end,” said state Attorney General Rob Bonta in a news release. “No one agency can do it all alone.”

“I am grateful to our local, state, and federal partners for holding traffickers accountable and creating a real, lasting impact on survivors,” said Bonta.

Warren had been detained in federal prison without bail due to the community’s safety after his September 2023, arrest, and credit for the last 10 months in jail will be credited, according to court records.