A Simi Valley man now faces 16 felony counts and seven misdemeanor counts in two cases involving eight survivors after he allegedly solicited minors for sex acts near Moorpark High School.

Brent William Bischoff, 37, was charged in two separate human trafficking cases, the Ventura County District Attorney's Office announced. Seven of the eight survivors are minors between the ages of 14 and 16.

Bischoff allegedly approached multiple teenage girls at shopping centers near Moorpark High School during September, offering money for sex acts, according to KEYT, which first reported the expanded charges.

The felony charges include seven counts of causing a minor to engage in a commercial sex act, six counts of pandering a minor 16 or older, one count of pandering a minor under 16, one count of pandering by encouraging and one forgery charge. He also faces seven misdemeanor counts of child annoyance.

Prosecutors said Bischoff faces a special allegation that he was on probation, mandatory supervision, post-release community supervision or parole at the time of the alleged offenses.

He pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Sept. 22 arrest

Deputies first arrested Bischoff on Tuesday, Sept. 22, after the Ventura County Sheriff's Office received a report of a man in an SUV offering children money for work and making vulgar comments at the Vons Shopping Center at 4241 Tierra Rejada Road, KEYT reported, citing the sheriff's office. A second call soon followed, reporting similar behavior at the Grocery Outlet Shopping Center at 425 West Los Angeles Road.

Deputies used automated license plate reader technology and law enforcement databases to locate Bischoff's vehicle and take him into custody, according to Edhat, citing a sheriff's office press release. The agency identified him as a sex registrant at the time of his arrest.

The Moorpark Investigations Unit, Moorpark Patrol Services and the East County Sexual Assault Unit handled the initial investigation.

Bail and next hearing

Bischoff remains in custody. Bail is set at $250,000 for the first case and $1 million for the second.

He is scheduled to appear in court for a bail review hearing on Friday, Oct. 2.

"These charges involve the exploitation of children, and our office will do everything in its power to prosecute individuals who target vulnerable young people for commercial sex," Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said in a statement.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Moorpark Police Department at 805-532-2715.