Kittson County (trfnews.i234.me) Pulaski, Tennessee – A former Kittson County sheriff’s deputy and his wife have been bound over to a Giles County, Tennessee, grand jury on charges involving labor trafficking and animal cruelty.
According to court documents, James Edward Hewitt, 65, and Kelli D. Hewitt, 64, were arrested in early July and face charges of involuntary labor servitude, trafficking for forced labor or services, aggravated cruelty to animals, and three counts of cruelty to animals.
Investigators allege the couple harbored a child from a Haitian orphanage and subjected her to involuntary servitude, performing manual labor while withholding her birth certificate. The documents do not specify the time frame of the alleged crimes or the victim’s current age.
A search of the Hewitts’ Pulaski property on July 2 reportedly uncovered severe animal neglect. Authorities say they found:
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A dog that was severely flea-infested, anemic, and at risk of death
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At least 31 dogs are kept outdoors without proper shelter
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At least 44 dogs are confined without water
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Eight chickens, one duck, and a turkey in starvation conditions
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One deceased turkey
Although court documents do not confirm the couple’s Minnesota ties, a LinkedIn profile for “Jim Hewitt” shows employment with the Kittson County Sheriff’s Office from 2002 to 2017 and work in border security roles. The profile also references humanitarian work in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake.
Court records from July 25 indicate a judge determined probable cause for the charges, and the case will now proceed to a grand jury in Giles County.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.