Written by Assistant District Attorney Lindy Borchardt, Tarrant County’s Human Trafficking Prosecutor
Seeking justice for the crime of human trafficking can be a daunting process. Yet, stories like Rebekah’s remind us of the profound impact an advocate can have in empowering survivors to share their testimony and achieve justice.
Rebekah and another teenager had suffered extensively at the hands of their trafficker who was both a drug and child sex trafficker. As the trial date for the cases neared, I didn’t know if Rebekah would be able to testify at trial and I could not find the other teenager. We made the strategic decision for Mike Ferry, a narcotics prosecutor, to go forward on the drug trafficking case. The jury found him guilty on those charges, and the punishment phase of the trial began. When I stood before the jury in the opening statement– which is my opportunity to tell them who the witnesses will be– I didn’t mention Rebekah. I didn’t know if she would come to court… or if she did come, what her testimony would be.
But, alongside her Unbound Now advocate, she showed up. Her advocate had formed a relationship with her over the previous months and earned her trust. They rode together to the courthouse and were ready to go when the time came for Rebekah to take the witness stand.
As a prosecutor, I never forget what I’m asking these victims to do. To come before strangers and talk about the most traumatic events of their lives. Will they be viewed as a victim? Will they be believed?
I could not have been prouder of Rebekah. When she took the stand during the punishment phase of the jury trial, she found her voice and courage to testify. Her testimony was harrowing and honest. She recounted the manipulation and coercion she and the other teenager had endured and the trauma they suffered at the hands of the trafficker.
Rebekah’s testimony resonated profoundly with the jury. Her willingness to share the vulnerabilities that made her susceptible to trafficking helped the jury understand the intricate dynamics of power and control in trafficking cases.
Thanks to her courage, justice was swiftly served. The jury took less than ten minutes to sentence the defendant to 99 years in prison—a punishment that stands as a monumental victory not just for Rebekah, but for all survivors seeking justice.
I am deeply appreciative of our Unbound Now advocates, who stood by Rebekah from the very first conversations in my office, to the moment when the verdict came back from the jury.
Together, our community in Tarrant County is having a tremendous impact in the fight against human trafficking.
