PULASKI, TN (trfnews.i234.me) – James and Kelli Hewitt, former residents of Lancaster, Minnesota, are now facing serious criminal charges in Giles County, Tennessee—including human trafficking for forced labor and multiple counts of animal cruelty.
⚖️ Court Appearance and Charges:
-
The Hewitts, now living in Pulaski, Tennessee, recently appeared in court.
-
Charges are moving forward based on warrants previously issued.
-
Tennessee does not require a public statement of probable cause, so additional case details remain limited for now.
🚨 What We Know So Far:
-
The charges stem from the discovery of over 40 neglected dogs and starving chickens on the Hewitt property.
-
Although the Giles County Sheriff stated that eight individuals were rescued from the scene, the warrants specifically name one victim, believed to be a child from a Haitian orphanage.
The warrant alleges the Hewitts “knowingly and intentionally committed the offense of trafficking for forced labor by harboring the victim from a Haiti orphanage, knowing that the victim would be subjected to involuntary servitude or manual labor.”
🏛️ Legal Proceedings:
-
The case is now headed to a Giles County Circuit Court for Grand Jury review.
-
It’s possible the matter could be escalated to federal court, given the human trafficking allegations.
James Hewitt is a former employee of the Kittson County Sheriff’s Department in northern Minnesota.
This is a developing story. Follow TRF News for updates as the case progresses through Tennessee courts.