Iowa Human Trafficking Expert Brings Awareness Campaign to Floyd County
Human trafficking in Iowa has been highlighted with this week’s trial in Des Moines involving a teenage victim.
17-year-old Pieper Lewis was initially charged with first-degree murder after she stabbed her accused 37-year-old rapist to death in June 2020 . She was 15 at the time. Last year, she pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and willful injury. Tuesday, she was sentenced to five years of closely supervised probation and ordered to pay $150,000 restitution to the man’s family.
Lyna Debner with the See Something-Say Something Initiative and Homeland Security anti-trafficking project in Iowa addressed the issue at a recent Floyd County Board of Supervisor meeting.
Debner also noted that the problem is not going away.
Debner has been going across the state to raise awareness of human trafficking with posters and other printed materials, plus hosting training programs with law enforcement as well as hotel staffs. Supervisors approved a proclamation in support of Debner distributing anti-human trafficking information in the county.
