Friday, May 3, 2024
The Texas Attorney General's office has filed motions with the 440th District Court to dismiss human trafficking charges against nine people who were arrested and charged in June 2021.
Charges have been dismissed without prejudice, meaning they could be re-filed in the future. When a charge is dismissed with prejudice, that means they have been permanently dismissed.
"We believe the dismissals speak for themselves and we have no further comment at this time," wrote Patty Ramon, press secretary for the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in an email response to The Messenger asking about the dismissed charges.
The dismissals were of charges against:
* Elijah Keller, for trafficking of persons, with the AG's office stating the complaining witness has requested dismissal and the alleged victim has recanted multiple times.
* William Henderson, for continuous trafficking and sexual assault, with the AG's office stating that the complaining witness has requested dismissal, one alleged victim has recanted multiple times and another alleged victim cannot be located.
* Lorenzo Ford, for continuous trafficking and sexual assault, with the AG's office stating that the alleged victim cannot be located.
* Stephen Williams, for continuous trafficking of persons, with the AG's office stating that the complaining witness has requested dismissal and the alleged victim has recanted multiple times. An additional charge of having a controlled substance in a corrections facility has been dismissed with the AG's office stating that was "in the interest of justice."
* David Peoples, for continuous trafficking and sexual assault, with the AG’s office stating the alleged victim cannot be located.
* Angela Cedillo, for continuous trafficking, with the AG's office stating the victim cannot be located.
* Carl Ford, for continuous trafficking and sexual assault, with the AG's office stating that the alleged victim cannot be located.
