A man in North Carolina was arrested Wednesday and charged with human trafficking after he apparently subjected a person to sexual slavery for 5 years, police said.

The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation after the National Human Trafficking tip line notified them about a possibility. Police arrested Salvador Espinoza Escobar, 48, after a warrant was issued against him during the course of the investigation, according to a news release.

Escobar, of Asheboro, was charged with one count of Felony Human Trafficking for “holding a person in sexual servitude by withholding basic needs in exchange for forced sexual acts since 2015,” per the statement.

He was initially arrested without incident but released on $100,000 bail on Friday evening, CNN reported, citing the Sheriff’s office. He appeared in court on the same day through videoconference. Escobar told the Randolph County judge that he would hire his own lawyer.

It is the first arrest in Randolph County involving human trafficking, according to WXII.

Any further information about the victim was withheld so as to maintain the person’s privacy and protection. Escobar is likely to face more charges as the investigation progresses, police said.

The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office has joined hands with World Relief Triad, a non-profit organization serving vulnerable groups, to provide services to the victim.

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Representational image of a handcuff. Pixabay
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