HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The trial for a former bonding agent charged with human trafficking and rape has been continued again, this after he apparently suffered a heart attack.
The trial had been scheduled to get underway next week for Dwight Jurgens. That has now been continued to some later date because of the heart attack which occurred on May 21. That information was given to the court by his attorney Sam Kepfield. He apparently needed emergency heart cath and the placement of a stint. Kepfield indicated that he has new meds that makes it hard for him to concentrate, focus, even think straight. His doctor recommended a 6-week delay to allow him time to develop a tolerance to the side effects of his new heart medications. However, Judge Trish Rose who initially denied the continuance, until she learned of the situation with the heart attack, set a status hearing for June 20.
It was two weeks ago that the state requested a continuance because Deputy District Attorney Tom Stanton was down with the flu.
Jurgens is charged with four counts of aggravated human trafficking, two counts of attempting to commit aggravated human trafficking, rape and aggravated criminal sodomy. The human trafficking and aggravated counts are charged due to his authority of controlling persons because of his bonding business. He had worked for TNT bonding at the time of the initial arrest.
All four victims allege that they were threatened with being taken back to jail if they didn’t agree to have sex with him.
When the trial will be re-scheduled is unknown at this point, but we’ll let you know.