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Pieper Lewis to Return to Court on February 20

Courtesy of the Des Moines Register

A Des Moines sex trafficking victim who pleaded guilty to killing one of her accused abusers spent nearly two years on the run seeking treatment for her trauma, her attorney says in new court filings.

Pieper Lewis, now 21, was 15 when she stabbed Zachary Brooks to death in June 2020. Lewis later said Brooks had repeatedly raped her in the preceding weeks, and her then-attorneys said a 28-year-old man she had been living with at the time had trafficked and manipulated her into having sex with Brooks, although no charges were filed.

In 2022, Lewis pleaded guilty to reduced charges of manslaughter. After failing probation once in Iowa, she was sent to a facility in metro Atlanta, in part because Iowa does not have a suitable facility for treating youthful female offenders. She was removed from that program for multiple rule violations in March 2024 and subsequently absconded from probation. She had no further contact with law enforcement until Dec. 19, 2025, when she turned herself in at a probation office in Des Moines.

Her return to custody has kicked her long-dormant criminal case back into gear. Lewis originally was scheduled for a new probation revocation hearing on Friday, Jan. 2. But at her attorney’s request, that hearing has now been postponed to Feb. 20.

Attorney Addresses Extended Absence

In a Dec. 29, 2025, filing, defense attorney Andrew Wendel said Lewis intends to admit to multiple violations of her probation, namely failure to attend meetings, maintain address and contact information, and adhere to GPS monitoring rules.

The only question before the court, he said, will be the appropriate disposition. Key to that decision, Wendel said, will be what Lewis was doing during her 20 months off her probation.

Her attorney says that at that time, “Ms. Lewis has sought treatment through various community service and medical providers.” Now he’s asked for, and received, more time to obtain records and witnesses to speak to that treatment.

“These records and witnesses are vital to Ms. Lewis’s defense,” he wrote. “Not only do they provide context for her behavior during the last 20 months, but they also will show the progress Ms. Lewis has made and her acceptance of responsibility.”

Wendel noted that the Polk County Attorney’s Office did not oppose his request for a postponement. Lewis is now scheduled to appear in court on February 20.

Governor Signs Proclamation for Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month

On January 15, Governor Kim Reynolds and Secretary of State Paul Pate signed a statewide proclamation declaring January 2026 as Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month in Iowa. This event was held at the Rotunda of the Iowa State Capitol Building and was organized and sponsored by the Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery. Despite the temperatures, 106 concerned Iowans from across the state attended. The photo shows Lieutenant Governor Chris Cournoyer holding the proclamation surrounded by Network board members. The Governor asked her Lieutenant Governor to fill in for her during the program.

Following the proclamation signing, Outstanding Anti-Trafficking Service Awards were presented to five Iowa unsung heroes. Each honoree received a plaque and a signed copy of the proclamation courtesy of the governor. The service award honors individuals and organizations that have made remarkable contributions to ending trafficking in Iowa. Next month’s blog will pay tribute to these six Iowa honorees:

  • Allie Riches: Volunteer with Tristate Coalition Against Human Trafficking, student prevent human trafficking leader at the University of Dubuque
  • Sara Kellums: Survivor, NAHT Board member, advocate for Braking Traffick
  • Doll Distributing: Outstanding IBAT business nominated by the Iowa Secretary of State
  • Project LIVE: Human Trafficking Prevention in the Des Moines Schools
  • Nicole Leonard and Molly Edwards: Jarod Earl Anderson, prosecutors

Over 60 Local Prevention Month Proclamations Across Iowa

Sincere thanks to the anti-trafficking advocates who secured local government proclamations. Over 60 city councils and county boards of supervisors across Iowa signed proclamations declaring January 2026 as Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. What a great way to create awareness within communities across Iowa.

These proclamations were requested by local anti-trafficking advocates, NAHT Board members, and service club organizations such as Rotary and the American Association of University Women (AAUW). Below are nine photos of local governments signing proclamations:

The entire college community, along with the Secretary of State Paul Pate, attended Mercy College’s 8th Annual Human Trafficking Proclamation Signing Ceremony. For the past eight years, during “Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month,”, Mercy College has led the way among Iowa colleges and universities in committing itself to eradicating this evil of enslavement.

 

Maggie Tinsman is shown hand-in-hand with Sara, a human trafficking survivor, shown holding the City of Bettendorf proclamation. Maggie and Sara are both members of the NAHT Board of Directors. Maggie and her assistant, Marielle Sweborg, visited and received proclamations from half a dozen cities (Scott County Board of Supervisors, Rock Island Board of Supervisors, Bettendorf City Council, Davenport City Council, Moline City Council, Rock Island, Illinois City Council).

 

Joel Pedersen, President of Administrative Services at North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC), has demonstrated the college community’s commitment to combating human trafficking by signing a proclamation. Pictured holding the signed proclamation is Peterson with Lyna Debner, who requested the proclamation. Lyna is a member of the NAHT Board of Directors and Vice-Chair of the North and Central Iowa Coalition Against Human Trafficking.

 

The Ames City Council authorized Ames Mayor John Heila to sign the city proclamations (he is shown holding). George Belitsos, NAHT Board member provided an update to the council. He is shown on the far left next to Gage Haines, ISU student representing Roteract, and Andrew Allen, CEO of Youth and Shelter Services.

 

The West Liberty City Council has demonstrated its commitment to community awareness of human trafficking by signing its proclamation each of the last 4 four years. Many thanks to Tom Barr, Network Board member, who has solicited the proclamation each year. Tom is also chair of the NAHT fundraising committee.

 

The Polk County Board of Supervisors is shown holding its proclamation declaring January Human Trafficking Prevention Month. This is the first year that Polk County has signed a proclamation. The NAHT thanks Dr. Joe Moravec for arranging the proclamation signing.

 

Photo from January 19th City Council Meeting, taken during the proclamation signing with Mayor Leners and members of the Rotary Club of Winterset and the Madison County Rotary Extension Club. Our thanks to Sarah Simon, Rotarian and NAHT Board member for securing this city proclamation. Sarah is shown sitting to the left of the mayor.

 

On Monday, January 26, the Des Moines City Council adopted a Prevent Human Trafficking Month Proclamation for the city of Des Moines. Holding the proclamation to the far left are John Chesser, chair of the NAHT, and Dr. Joe Moravec. Standing to Dr. Joe’s left is the Mayor Connie Boesen of Des Moines, who read the proclamation before presenting it to the group of anti-trafficking advocates, which included several staff from Chains Interrupted. To the far right, wearing the End Human Trafficking t-shirt is Karl Shilling, who is a member of the NAHT Board and an active member of the Rotary District 6000 Prevent Human Trafficking Action Team.

 

The Mayor of Rockwell, Iowa, Larry Wentz, is shown with Lyna Debner, NAHT Board member, holding up their version of the January 2026 Proclamation of Human Trafficking Prevention Month. We should be proud of the small town of Rockwell for adopting an anti-trafficking proclamation. Hopefully in January 2027, we will see even more small cities and towns adopting proclamations.

Iowa Legislature Considering 10 HT Related Bills

The legislature gaveled into session on January 12, and here are 10 human trafficking related bills that are currently active and being considered in House and Senate committees.

BillDescription
HSB 511A bill for an act relating to the purchase or possession of a visual depiction of a minor engaging in a prohibited sexual act or the simulation of a prohibited sexual act.
HSB 570A bill for an act relating to victim proctections including victim counselors, protective orders, sex offender registration, rights of sexual abuse victims, mental competency, and victim commitment, restitution, and victim rights.
SSB 3021A bill for an act relating to sexual exploitation of a minor and deferred and suspended sentences.
HF 1011

CO:HF 831

A bill for an act relating to human trafficking, including the establishment of human trafficking prosecution units and the remittance of wire transmission fees to the office to combat human trafficking. (Formerly HF 831, HF 463.)
HF 1036A bill for an act relating to human trafficking, including screening children, civil statutes of limitations, an annual stakeholder meeting and report, depositions of victims, restitution, restorative facilities and protective services, and investigation and prosecution, and including effective date provisions. (Formerly HF 908, HF 452.)
HF 2109A bill for an act relating to the disposition of collected criminal case fines and establishing a victim restitution fund.
HF 2111A bill for an act relating to deferred or suspended sentences for cases involving sexual exploitation of a minor.
HF 2144

CO:HF 669

A bill for an act relating to the expungement of certain criminal history records of victims of human trafficking, and including penalties.
SF 2068A bill for an act relating to the licensure of massage establishments, and making penalties applicable.
SF 2083A bill for an act modifying the periods of time to bring certain civil actions by victims of sexual abuse and other sexual offenses that occurred when the victim was a minor, entitling certain cases to a preference in trial order, and including effective date provisions.

Here are some important legislative dates to get on your calendar.

  • February 20 – 1st Legislative Funnel Deadline
  • March 20 – 2nd Legislative Funnel Deadline
  • April 21 – 100th Day of Session
  • TBD 2026 – Adjournment

Here are the NAHT 2026 legislative priorities.

Congress Passes H.R. 4323 – Criminal Record Relief for Survivors

December 20, 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 4323, the bipartisan Trafficking Survivors Relief Act. The legislation was sponsored by Congressman Russell Fry (R-SC), co-led by Ann Wagner (R-MO) and Hank Johnson (D-GA), and co-sponsored by Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA). This bill provides federal criminal record relief to survivors of human trafficking who committed non-violent offenses as a direct result of their exploitation.

On January 13, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the House bill and was signed by President Trump.

NAHT Exceeds its Fundraising Goal

2025 marked an important chapter in both NAHT history and fundraising. Led by a clear vision to end human trafficking in Iowa, the NAHT celebrated its 20th anniversary since its founding in 2005. The board of the NAHT set a 20th anniversary fundraising goal of $20,000. Thanks to the support of our Iowa anti-trafficking advocates and donors, we ended 2025 by exceeding the goal by $8,000. Over the last 20 years, the NAHT has made meaningful strides in fighting

Dubuque High School AI Crisis

Three students at Cascade High School in Western Dubuque, Iowa, face criminal charges after allegedly creating AI-generated nude images of female classmates. The incident affected 44 girls across multiple grade levels who had their social media photos manipulated into explicit deepfakes. Under HF 2240, whichwas signed into Iowa law last year, creating AI-generated sexual content of minors is now a crime in Iowa.

The survivors, calling themselves “Voices of the Strong 44,” issued a joint statement expressing frustration with the school’s initial response. They reported being told not to discuss the incident and returning to school the next day without counseling or wellness checks, forced to sit alongside the accused students in class. “To say we were confused, shocked, and uncomfortable is an understatement,” they wrote.

The case reflects a growing nationwide problem as schools, courts, and law enforcement struggle to keep pace with rapidly advancing technology that enables new forms of harassment and exploitation of minors. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, many states are working to enact new laws. The “Take it Down Act,” a federal law signed last May, now makes it a federal crime to publish nude or exploitative images, whether real or fake, of a child. The law also requires online platforms to remove nonconsensual images within 48 hours of a victim’s report.

Defiance Act to Combat Sexual Deepfakes Signed into Law

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the youngest woman and youngest Latina to ever serve in U.S. Congress. Yet, even she was not immune to being violated by AI-generated sexually explicit deepfakes. Ocasio-Cortez was in a meeting with her staffers, discussing legislation and scrolling through X, when she saw the photo: an AI-generated image of someone forcing her into a sexual act. Shock and horror coursed through her. Trauma from a physical sexual assault she’d endured flooded back to the surface.

Months later, when Ocasio-Cortez told the story, she was still shaken. “There are certain images that don’t leave a person, they can’t leave a person,” she said. “… [O]nce you’ve seen it, you’ve seen it.” She continues, “It parallels the same exact intention of physical rape and sexual assault, [which] is about power, domination, and humiliation. Deepfakes are absolutely a way of digitizing violent humiliation against other people.”

Ocasio-Cortez knows she is far from the only one who has experienced this kind of AI-generated image-based sexual abuse. That is why she is co-leading the effort to pass the DEFIANCE Act, a bill that gives survivors of AI-generated IBSA the ability to sue their exploiters.

Last month she celebrated a momentous step forward: The Senate has unanimously passed the DEFIANCE Act! This is an incredible victory for survivors across the nation.

Iowa anti-trafficking advocates may be aware that Iowa is one of only four states that does not have vacatur, which is a process where a conviction is legally withdrawn, making it as if the conviction never happened. The NAHT has discovered that the DEFIANCE Act applies only to those survivors who go through the federal court system. Therefore, the DEFIANCE Act does not insert vacatur into Iowa code. This bill provides federal criminal record relief to survivors (processed in federal court) of human trafficking who committed non-violent offenses as a direct result of their exploitation.

Attorney General Brenna Bird Sues Roblox for Endangering Iowa Children

Attorney General Brenna Bird announced she has sued the online gaming company Roblox for failing to take necessary steps to protect Iowa kids from sexual exploitation, facilitating distribution of child sex abuse material, and failing to warn Iowa parents of the ongoing sexual exploitation of children occurring on Roblox.

Roblox is one of the most popular games in the United States. It has over 80 million daily users, many of those are Iowans and most of whom are children under the age of 18. Roblox markets itself as the “#1 gaming site for kids and teens.” As many as two-thirds of U.S. children ages 9 to 12 have Roblox accounts.

Roblox has recently assured parents that their platform is safe for kids, and that they’ve put the proper guardrails in place to protect them. However, evidence suggests otherwise. Roblox has failed to put basic safety controls in place and has intentionally concealed from Iowa parents the dangers their platform presents while allowing child exploitation, pornography, and extortion on its platform for years.

Out-of-State Man Charged with Human Trafficking in Iowa

A Wisconsin man is charged with human trafficking in Scott County after police say he trafficked a woman around the country.

Police arrested Romelle Ross, 42, of Janesville, Wisconsin, last month on a felony human trafficking charge, according to the arrest affidavit. Since January 2024, police said Ross forced a woman to engage in sexual acts with strangers for his own financial gain. Police said Ross took the woman around the country and promoted her on a known prostitution website.

Iowa Human Trafficking Prevention Learning Event on March 29

Join Street Grace from 3:00-4:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 29 for its second 2026 AAUW Iowa Human Trafficking Prevention Zoom learning event. Street Grace focuses on prevention, protection, policy, and pursuit. Recent statistics tell us that in the past 15 years the number of children among identified victims has tripled to 35% or one-third of all victims, which is one of the greatest evils of our day.

Tap here to get the Zoom link and learn more.

TV News Clips & Articles

By on February 2, 2026   /   News