Court proceedings for the two suspects in a Lyon County human trafficking and child sexual exploitation case will continue later this month.
Both 41-year-old Maria Elena Trillo and 45-year-old Jesus Manuel Trillo-Hurtado of Emporia had their first appearances in Lyon County District Court Monday. During that time, Judge Doug Jones set preliminary hearing dates of Wednesday, July 24 at 9 am for Maria Trillo and 10 am for Jesus Trillo-Hurtado before Judge Lee Fowler.
Judge Jones also appointed Rand Simmons to serve as legal counsel for Trillo-Hurtado. Maria Trillo is represented by Monty Miller.
Both are facing four total counts each including two counts of aggravated human trafficking and aggravated commercial sexual exploitation of a child following alleged activity between January and May of 2016. Documents available through the Kansas District Court Public Access Portal allege that between January and May of that year, both individuals unlawfully and feloniously recruited, harbored, transported, provided, or obtained a person under the age of 18 to engage in involuntary servitude, forced labor or sexual gratification.
The affidavit in the case is sealed.
