#FreeZephi
During the summer of 2019, then 16-year-old Zephi Treviño, began "dating" then 18-year-old P. Baldenegro.
"When a perpetrator suggests to their victim(s) that they are in a romantic relationship, it creates a sense of trust and loyalty that easily provides a false sense of security, particularly in the cases of vulnerable youth," explains Sophia, a child sex trafficking survivor and council member of the World Without Exploitation Youth Coalition.
"Because of the trust and familiarity the connection establishes, it is easy for the exploiter to manipulate their victims to engage in [sex] acts." After Baldenegro began his process of grooming Zephi during their "relationship," his exploitation escalated by advertising Zephi for sex.
In August, two adult men convened with Zephi and Baldengro at an apartment under the pretense of purchas ing Zephi from Baldenegro for sex. When the two adult men arrived, Baldenegro allegedly began to beat and rob them with an accomplice.
The commotion resulted in the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Carlos Morillo, one of the men who was there to purchase sex from Zephi. Despite Baldenegro confessing to pulling the trigger in the murder of Morillo, Zephi is being accused of committing capital murder alongside her traffickers
Zephi's prosecutors seek to try her as an adult, alleging that she is a co-conspirator even though an investigation into Zephi's trafficking victimization has not been undertaken.
Under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, Zephi was a domestically trafficked child. Under Texas's human trafficking offense -- which includes all commercial sexual exploitation of minors -- Zephi was a child sexual abuse victim.
The hearing on February 5th is being held to determine if the State will certify Zephi as an adult. We hope the Dallas District Attorney will not move forward with his hearing and instead drop all charges against Zephi.
What we can do:
• Call the DA John Creuzot and
ask him to drop the charges : (214) 653-3600
• Email the DA John Creuzot: john.creuzot@dallascounty.org
• Sign Petition: https://www.change.org/p/henry-wade-juvenile-justice-facility-justice-for-zephaniah-trevino
[Subject: Free Zephaniah Treviño]
Dear DA John Creuzot,
I am urging you to drop the charges against Zephaniah Treviño. Zephaniah Treviño was a child victim of sex trafficking at the time of her arrest. I also ask that the Dallas DA's Office begin the needed in-depth training to obtain the tools to recognize and assist sex trafficking victims.
Sincerely,
[First, Last]
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