No decision on whether a defense motion should be granted for a former bonding agent charged with human trafficking and rape. The defense attorney for Dwight Jurgens believes the charges should be dismissed.

Dwight 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.

But, his attorney Sam Kepfield argues that the state failed with wording and the theory they used to file the complaint. He says the state contends that his client engaged in human trafficking by “coercing employment” by “threatening to abuse the law or legal process” for his sexual enjoyment. He says the state contends that Jurgens extracted sexual favors by implying it was a condition of their bond. He claims that stretches the meaning of ‘coercing employment, and what the legislature intended with the statute. He wants the charges dropped.

The state opposed that, arguing their point in the law, and Deputy District Attorney Tom Stanton asked for more time to file additional briefs on the issue. That was granted by District Judge Trish Rose. She set a deadline of September 16

The jury trial is scheduled to begin on September 24.