Legislature(2023 - 2024)GRUENBERG 120
03/17/2023 01:00 PM House JUDICIARY
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| Presentation(s): Alaska Survivors of Human and Sex Trafficking | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
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ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE JUDICIARY STANDING COMMITTEE
March 17, 2023
1:02 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Sarah Vance, Chair
Representative Jamie Allard, Vice Chair
Representative Ben Carpenter
Representative Craig Johnson
Representative David Eastman
Representative Andrew Gray
Representative Cliff Groh
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT
Representative Mike Cronk
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATION(S): ALASKA SURVIVORS OF HUMAN AND SEX TRAFFICKING
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
COURTNEY, representing self
(No address provided)
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided invited testimony during the
presentation on Alaska survivors of human and sex trafficking.
HANNAH, representing self
(No address provided)
POSITION STATEMENT Provided invited testimony during the
presentation on Alaska survivors of human and sex trafficking.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:02:53 PM
CHAIR SARAH VANCE called the House Judiciary Standing Committee
meeting to order at 1:02 p.m. Representatives Carpenter, C.
Johnson, Gray, and Vance were present at the call to order.
Representatives Groh, Allard, and Eastman arrived as the meeting
was in progress.
^PRESENTATION(S): Alaska Survivors of Human and Sex Trafficking
PRESENTATION(S): Alaska Survivors of Human and Sex Trafficking
1:03:31 PM
CHAIR VANCE announced that the only order of business would be
the Alaska Survivors of Human and Sex Trafficking presentation.
1:04:10 PM
COURTNEY, representing self, provided invited testimony during
the Alaska Survivors of Human and Sex Trafficking presentation.
She shared her story, recalling that after being released from
drug rehabilitation in 2014, she had no support system in the
community and no place to live. Unsure of where to go, she had
been at an Anchorage McDonalds when a man who looked "clean" and
was "kind and inviting" offered to help her. She thought he
would help her in the way she needed help.
COURTNEY continued that the man took her to a house in a middle-
class neighborhood, which was empty except for a bed and a
dresser. She stated that in the house there were a variety of
drugs, and when she was offered the drugs, she accepted, as she
was just out of drug rehabilitation. She stated that the man
took her shopping and made her promises, but there was no sexual
activity at this point. She stated that this grooming went on
for weeks. After this she was taken to another nice house to
meet a woman who continued to groom her by teaching her how to
act in front of the man and his friends. She expressed the
understanding that this woman had been in her situation years
before. She had asked to use the phone at this point, but the
woman refused this request.
COURTNEY stated that after leaving this house she was expected
to meet the man's sexual desires on demand. He controlled her
every move and manipulated her thoughts. This escalated into
daily abuse, and from this he would make her have sex with other
people, which became her routine. She said she never knew what
the situation would be with the different people, as some just
wanted to talk, while others would be violent. She described
being "tired and beat down at this point," as she was raped
multiple times and forced to have sex with both men and women.
She described being so repulsed, numb, exhausted, and strung-out
that she would vomit. She said that the situation felt
hopeless. She stated that she started believing that her value
was based on her physical appearance and money. She recalled
feeling like "trash."
1:15:17 PM
COURTNEY said that she had given up at this point and was not
trying to please anyone. She stated that in 2017 she was put in
a hotel room with other women who were waiting to be flown out
of state. She was flown to San Antonia, Texas, and taken from
the airport to a nice neighborhood. She expressed that no one
would believe that this was happening in this neighborhood. She
described the house as having cameras and multiple locks on the
doors. At this point her routine included showering, sex, and
then being given drugs, which she no longer wanted. She stated
that she was strapped down and given intravenous drugs. She
said she ran away multiple times, but each time she was caught,
drugged, taken home, and beaten. She recalled her experience
going to the hospital with a broken ankle, adding that she knew
better not to speak. She stated that an officer came to the
hospital, but out of fear she told them they were mistaken. She
stated that with the broken ankle she was worthless to the man,
as he only cared about power and money. She stated that he
stopped giving her drugs, so she went into detox.
1:21:16 PM
COURTNEY stated that in 2019, the house was raided. At this
point, she said, she was put in a car while the man was allowed
to stay in the house. For the first time, she was able to tell
everything that had happened to her; however, she was charged
with prostitution, while the man was not prosecuted. She stated
that this charge is still on her record. Outside of the house
she was allowed to leave the police car, so she returned to the
house. She explained that she felt helpless because the police
would not help. She went back to the routine, but her
identification card had been taken by the man.
COURTNEY stated that she was then taken to a patron who did not
want sex, and he let her telephone her mother, who sent her a
new identification card to the patron's address, which she was
able to hide from the man. She described the opportunity that
allowed her to run. She described this as a "divine
appointment." Her handler had fallen asleep, the security guard
watching the door was gone, the cameras were shut off, and she
had her identification card. She said that suddenly every door
was open for her to be free, and with the help of her family,
she was able to fly home. She stated that her family met her at
the airport where she felt love for the first time in years.
She discussed her healing journey, which included a lot of
"heart work," counseling, and prayer. She talked about the
disassociation and physical trauma she experienced. She
concluded by informing the committee that she is now married
with two children. She expressed the opinion that the laws need
to be changed.
1:34:14 PM
CHAIR VANCE pointed out that this happened a short time ago and
thanked Courtney for her courage.
1:34:48 PM
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN thanked Courtney for the testimony and
her bravery. He acknowledged that the system failed her. He
asked whether any individuals she had been forced to spend time
with were convicted of any crimes.
COURTNEY responded in the negative.
1:35:48 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GROH thanked Courtney and asked whether the man
was ever prosecuted.
COURTNEY stated that from her understanding he has not been
prosecuted. In response to a follow-up question, she stated
that she has never been interviewed by the authorities or had
any type of follow up.
REPRESENTATIVE GROH commented that this is very sad, as the
statute of limitations have now expired.
1:37:33 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER acknowledged that there was no "fixing
this" for the victim(s). Further, he opined that there was no
law strong enough to impose on the perpetrators of these crimes.
CHAIR VANCE discussed her desire to expunge these types of
records.
1:39:25 PM
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN requested any takeaways that the
committee should have.
COURTNEY stated that telling her story may give others bravery
to step forward and encourage them to overcome the feelings of
impending doom.
1:41:23 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD thanked the presenter and agreed with
Representative Carpenter.
CHAIR VANCE asked what Courtney would say to other victims right
now.
COURTNEY emphasized what worked for her, which was prayer.
1:43:13 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 1:43 p.m. to 1:44 p.m.
1:44:19 PM
CHAIR VANCE introduced the next testifier.
1:44:44 PM
HANNAH, representing self, provided invited testimony during the
Alaska Survivors of Human and Sex Trafficking presentation..
She discussed her childhood, stating that her mother abandoned
her, and her father left her with her grandfather, who molested
her. She stated that she had not been educated on how this was
wrong, and her grandfather always bought her a gift after it
happened, so she learned at a very young age to trade a part of
herself. She said that she was promiscuous as a teenager,
smoking marijuana and drinking, and at 16 years old she was
addicted to pills. At 18 years old she started dancing at a
strip club in Anchorage, living in the basement. It was there
she was visited by a man who would come in every weekend for two
months with different women. She stated that the women were
dressed in nice clothes and would give her money. She stated
that others at the strip club told her that the man was a
"Gorilla Pimp," which she described as a violent pimp.
Eventually he took her to a nice house with other women, who
gave her drugs. She stated that in the house there were many
phonelines ringing, as this man owned six escort services. One
woman specifically groomed her with the promise of drugs and
took her on a call with a client, where they both had sex with
him. During the following days, she said that she was in a
"drug coma," and this was all she was thinking about. She
stated that the other women were giving her beautiful clothes
and more.
1:54:31 PM
HANNAH talked about the first time her perpetrator beat her,
stating that he took her identification card. She expressed the
understanding that he owned five houses and favored certain
women. She commented about the lack of food available for her
to eat. Her life consisted of seeing 10 to 12 dates per day,
she said, all to get high. She said all the money she made had
to be handed to her perpetrator. She described not wanting to
leave because she felt like she was "part of something." At one
point, he cut off all her hair for buying drugs with "his"
money. She also got in trouble for buying herself feminine care
products. She expressed the impression that her perpetrator was
well connected in the community. She discussed how some of the
clients were wealthy and important people in the community,
including a judge and a teacher.
HANNAH talked about "the box," which was a small space that
girls were put into for days for punishment. Eventually, two
girls had disappeared, and she expressed the understanding that
they had been killed because they tried to leave. She recalled
a story of how she and another girl were pitted against each
other and beaten.
2:06:27 PM
HANNAH discussed her addiction and how it was out of control,
suggesting that this kept her in captivity. She described how
the perpetrator and all the girls went to the Alaska State Fair
"as a family," and she indicated that the girls would fight for
his attention. She recounted various stories she had witnessed
that involved the other girls. She described one client who had
been interested in her life and her perpetrator's life, and she
eventually left the perpetrator and went to this client's house,
who also sold drugs. She stated that she thought he was nice;
however, this man ended up being more violent. After a
particularly bad beating, she stated that she returned to her
first perpetrator, who told her she was worthless without him.
She stated that he sent her to work that night with a bloody
face.
2:19:00 PM
HANNAH discussed how she could not call her father because of
shame. Because of a conflict with the other girls, she said
that she returned to the second perpetrator, who had picked up
some other girls, but these girls were also jealous, and this
caused the second perpetrator to beat her with a belt all over
her body and lock her in a closet. She stated that this was the
worse beating she ever received. She was able to run from this
situation, and she went to a client's house, who made her leave
because she was too beaten to have sex. She returned to the
second perpetrator, where she went back to work. He accused her
again of stealing his money, beat her, and then shaved her head.
She explained how this took away any confidence she had left.
2:28:12 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 2:28 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
2:30:41 PM
HANNAH resumed her story, explaining how the second perpetrator
tried to be like her first perpetrator. She stated that she
resumed going on dates while wearing a wig, but she feared doing
any activities, where he might think she was stealing. She
remembered always saying that she was sorry. She recounted how
she ran from him again, but the only places she knew where to go
were drug houses. The second perpetrator came and picked her up
from one of the drug houses, but she ran again. She stated that
she had the realization she was going to die, so she called her
mother, who she had not seen since she was 13 years old. She
stated that she stayed for a week with her mother, but because
of the drugs, she went back to the second perpetrator. They
traveled to Washinton State where they both became clean and got
jobs; however, because of the "monotony of the lifestyle" they
returned to their previous life. She stated that at this point
she knew there was a better life and she wanted out. While in
Washington, she stated that she went to the hospital from a
severe beating, and the second perpetrator was convicted for the
beating. At this point she began prostituting herself.
2:41:42 PM
HANNAH stated that in Seattle she was approached by federal
agents who told her that the first perpetrator was caught, and
they wanted her to testify. There was a warrant for her arrest,
and the agents told her she would be subpoenaed if she did not
go. She stated that she was picked up on the warrant and
carried back to Alaska. In the courtroom her testimony was
thrown out because she had been under the influence of drugs,
and her past was used against her. She was returned to jail in
Washington. Once out, she stated that she went back to
prostitution because of her addiction and shame.
HANNAH stated that in Washington she had a boyfriend who
supplied her with drugs while she prostituted. She stated that
her boyfriend's brother had her put an advertisement for
prostitution for his girlfriend. She had not realized the
girlfriend was only 17 years old, and while driving her to the
date she was picked up by the police. She was charged with
commercial sex abuse of a minor, but she was only convicted of
promoting prostitution. She stated that after jail in
Washington, she was clean from drugs and returned to Alaska.
She stated that from here she cycled back into the life of
drugs, stripping, and prostitution. She expressed the opinion
that she returned to this life because it was where she felt
needed and wanted. She stated that she and her new boyfriend
ended up in prison because of drugs and violence. In jail she
underwent treatment in the Transformational Living Community
program. She stated that this treatment is faith based, and she
discussed the healing she did there, connecting to God. She
explained how it took her time before she actually realized that
she was a victim, and she expressed the opinion that the drug
component played a big part in this. She stated that now she is
five years clean and a mother, but she has not completely
healed. She explained that she has learned that her past
experiences do not define her as a person.
2:57:00 PM
CHAIR VANCE thanked Hannah for telling her story and she praised
her strength. She reminded the committee that the topic feels
overwhelming, but it is important. She expressed her desire to
prevent future crimes like this from happening. She expressed
hope and thanked the presenters.
2:59:05 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Judiciary Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 2:59 p.m.
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