HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The jury in the case against a former bonding agent charged with human trafficking, rape and sodomy went home for the night without reaching a verdict.
They got the case against Dwight Jurgens around 12:15 p.m., Monday and began their deliberations around 1:30 p.m., but failed to reach a verdict. So they will be back at it around 8 a.m., Tuesday morning.
Jurgens is charged with two counts of aggravated human trafficking, two counts of attempting to commit aggravated human trafficking, two counts of aggravated trafficking, two alternate counts of rape and aggravated criminal sodomy. The human trafficking and aggravated counts are charged due to his authority of controlling persons because of his work in a bonding business. He worked for TNT bonding at the time of his arrest.
The state contends that the victims were forced into providing sexual favors with the threat that they could be sent back to jail if they didn’t. And that he took advantage of his power over them by forcing them into sexual relations and the state also contends in a couple of the counts that they were coerced to engage in forced labor or involuntary servitude for his sexual gratification. Deputy District Attorney Tom Stanton again reminded the jury that one of the victims testified that he made her feel like a prostitute. He says he took advantage of them when they were most vulnerable, being under the influence of drugs. Stanton asked the jury, why would the victims, four of them lie?
But, the defense in their closing again questioned the credibility of the alleged victims and says any sex between any of the women was consensual. Defense Attorney Sam Kepfield say that these women were drug attacks and would do anything to get out of jail so they could get high. He also questioned their testimony because some had been convicted of crimes of dishonesty. On the stand, they told the jury of those crimes occurring because they were on drugs at the time.
It took sometime Monday morning to agree on jury instructions, this after some discussion of what acts would constitute human trafficking. Judge Trish Rose in the end agreed to the states position that they should let the jury decide that question.
Again, no verdict with the jury going home Monday evening. They resume their deliberations Tuesday morning.