NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (KTLA) — A woman found dead face down in the sand in Newport Beach faced prostitution charges in three states and had given birth shortly before a stint in jail earlier this year, according to public records and interviews.
Tina Hoang, 20, had been arrested on suspicion of prostitution-related crimes in California, Nevada and Florida, court papers show.
The Bellflower resident, whose death was listed as “suspicious” by police, was arrested as recently as December on suspicion of prostitution and had at least a dozen open cases against her in Orange and Los Angeles counties, her attorney said.
“I just read the horrible news this afternoon,” Tustin lawyer David Nisson said shortly after police released two photographs of his client showing a distinctive tattoo of flowers and stars on the right side of her face.
“She was a very nice girl. I was just very shocked to hear that.”
Nisson said he last saw Hoang on Feb. 26, the day before her release from Orange County Jail, where she had been held on suspicion of loitering to commit prostitution in Anaheim.
She gave birth in January, her attorney said.
“I feel so terrible for her baby,” he said, adding that he did not know who was caring for the child.
“I almost feel guilty because I helped her get out of jail.”
Hoang spent a good deal of time in the criminal justice system, police and court records show.
Many of the cases remain open and the woman appeared to have only one conviction on her record — for prostitution in March 2012 in Las Vegas.
However, she was arrested multiple times in 2011 and 2012 in Las Vegas on suspicion of prostitution, trespassing, and loitering in and entering a casino as a minor, said Laura Meltzer, a spokeswoman with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
Hoang also had charges pending against her on three prostitution-related arrests in Anaheim between August 2011 and December 2012, according to the Anaheim city attorney’s office.
She was scheduled to appear Friday in court in Van Nuys on prostitution charges.
And, in Florida, Hoang was arrested last November in Miami-Dade County on suspicion of solicitation, records show.
Police have said little about the woman’s death.
Detectives said they are awaiting the results of an autopsy and toxicology tests.
34 Comments to “Woman Found Dead on Beach Had Friday Court Date”
March 4, 2013 at 8:54 PM
The asian woman had to be rich to hang around there.
March 5, 2013 at 5:57 AM
It's a beach. It's free.
March 7, 2013 at 10:30 AM
There's some indications that she hangs with a bad crowd.
March 7, 2013 at 10:53 AM
Would a couple of those indications be the two mugshots above?
March 7, 2013 at 11:45 AM
Excellent!
March 8, 2013 at 3:06 AM
Haaa Love it.
March 7, 2013 at 6:02 PM
Drugs.
March 7, 2013 at 1:09 PM
Honey try not to be so ignorant. Tattoos on somebodies face doesn't justify their death. You need Jesus.
March 7, 2013 at 1:46 PM
Jesus sure did her alot of good.
March 7, 2013 at 3:32 PM
have some respect
March 7, 2013 at 3:50 PM
I respect nobody with tattoos on their face and double mugshots! Worthless drain on society. You go "respect' her.
March 7, 2013 at 4:10 PM
grow up. this is a tragedy. how you can judge is beyond me.
March 7, 2013 at 4:51 PM
Tragedy?? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
March 7, 2013 at 4:58 PM
This was someones daughter, someones sister, someones friend. This is tragedy. Please take your negativity somewhere else, It serves no purpose here.
March 7, 2013 at 5:11 PM
You go somewhere else. Truth hurts huh? Worthless waste of space. Can't say it enough.
March 7, 2013 at 7:44 PM
Filled with so much hate. I feel sorry for you.
March 7, 2013 at 4:40 PM
As Tina Hoang's old sister I would really appreciate it if everyone spread a little love instead of hate. At this moment in time it is very personal and sensitive for my family since we are still puzzled upon the death of our angel.
March 7, 2013 at 4:51 PM
What was she previously arrested for?
March 7, 2013 at 8:05 PM
Your an idiot.
March 11, 2013 at 6:47 AM
We now know it was prostitution. Were you a customer koko?
March 7, 2013 at 1:12 PM
Disappointed in ktla ! Have a heart!
March 7, 2013 at 2:55 PM
Sad, another lost child. We lose too many of our young people.
March 7, 2013 at 3:40 PM
My friend deserves better. Let her rest in peace…I miss u tina!
March 7, 2013 at 6:03 PM
Your friend was hot.
March 7, 2013 at 6:04 PM
Won't it be a surprise when it is revelaed that this was drug or prostitution related.
March 7, 2013 at 8:00 PM
Even if it was related to any of those cases she still didn't have to die this way.
March 7, 2013 at 8:35 PM
So how many really "nice girls" have tats on their face, chest, and have a mile long rap sheet at age 20 for the worlds oldest profession? Darwin, natural selection succeeds again.
March 7, 2013 at 9:18 PM
dont judge someone on what you hear or tattoos know the person first
March 7, 2013 at 9:18 PM
rip tina you will always be remembered
March 7, 2013 at 9:37 PM
Because you are narrowminded and judgemental?
March 8, 2013 at 12:02 AM
Prostitution is dangerous, what did you think would happen?
March 8, 2013 at 9:18 AM
Wow! No more H a p p y E n d i n g s
March 8, 2013 at 7:01 PM
The media should respect the dead and show sympathy to the dead person and her family. It is not right fro any media to expose her criminal cases to the public. The media should keep her privacy.
The police detectives should catch the killer asap!
March 8, 2013 at 7:05 PM
We should always respect the dead person and let her soul rest peace.
It is NOT moral to discuss a dead person's past all criminal cases.