Suspected Vallejo pimp who allegedly choked woman to unconsciousness avoids prison through plea deal

OAKLAND — A man initially charged with human trafficking and pimping a woman has agreed to a deal that required him to plead no contest to a domestic violence charge in exchange for a three-year probation term, records show.

As part of the deal, 26-year-old Deshawn Johnson is being formally sentenced to 128 days in jail — time he has already served — and been ordered to stay away from both the victim and areas known for prostitution. Johnson was charged last February with assaulting a woman after coercing her into the sex trade, court records show.

The charges related to sex trafficking were dropped as part of the deal, records show.

The woman accused Johnson of choking her to the point of unconsciousness when they were together in Oakland, and accusing her of “faking” her injuries. She reportedly told police that Johnson introduced himself to her as a pimp and said he wanted her to “join the team because he saw potential in her,” according to police reports. The woman reportedly then traveled around Arizona, Oregon, Nevada, New Mexico and California, including the Bay Area, as a sex worker.