Let’s Talk About Zephi Treviño
(TW/CW sex/human trafficking).
Zephi was a 16 year old girl when approached by a sex trafficker who used drugs, violence, and death threats towards her family to manipulate and abuse her for a profit.
In 2019, her trafficker, Philip Baldenegro, arranged a “trick-roll” where a trafficking victim is used as bait to rob a sex buyer. Baldenegro ended up murdering this buyer, when trying to rob him and has admitted to doing so.
However, he is also saying that Zephi was complicit in the murder. Zephi had no part in this murder, she herself was a victim too.
Zephi spent a year in jail, without being charged, awaiting her trial. She was eventually released and since then, District Attorney Creuzot has shown an immense amount of bias against the young girl.
On February 12th, 2021, with the help of DA Creuzot, a judge ruled that Zephi would be tried as an adult since she would be turning 18 on February 19th, 2021. This means if found guilty, she will be given a life sentence.
Zephi was arrested, on February 12th, without a set bond and spent her18th birthday in an adult facility. She currently remains in this facility awaiting arraignment and bond reduction, from the recently set bond of $750,000.
The law in Texas has been against Zephi in many different ways. DA Creuzot doesn't recognize sex trafficking victims. She has been continuously offered a guilty plea deal, rather than justice against her trafficker.
Contact the Dallas County District Attorney, John Creuzot, and demand that Zephi not be tried as an adult and rather drop her charges.
The Dallas DA office needs to begin recognizing sex-tracking victims immediately.
