Trials remain on track for two charged in human trafficking

CEDAR RAPIDS — Both trials remain on track for two people charged with human trafficking involving a minor they are accused of taking from Dubuque to Cedar Rapids, giving drugs and forcing into prostitution.

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Tana Renee Torres, 50, of Cedar Rapids, was charged in July with human trafficking of a minor, second-degree sexual abuse, conspiracy to commit a forcible felony and prostitution.

Torres’ lawyers, during a brief pretrial hearing Friday, said there were no issues, and they would be ready for trial April 22 in Linn County District Court.

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Jarod Earl Anderson, 35, of Hiawatha, is charged with human trafficking of a minor, third-degree sexual abuse, conspiracy to commit a forcible felony, pimping, and two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.

Neither of Anderson’s defense lawyers, Bryan Tingle and Austin Luse, appeared Friday for what was to have been a phone hearing and neither responded to several emails and phone calls from the judge and the prosecutor.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Ian Thornhill said he couldn’t conduct a hearing without Anderson’s defense lawyers.

Thornhill said Anderson’s trial, set for Jan. 28, will go forward at this point and that he didn’t know if another pretrial hearing would be possible because he is going to be gone for the next two weeks.

The human trafficking charges against Anderson and Torres are the first cases in Linn County since a new law was passed in 2023 that specifies life in prison without the possibility of parole for those convicted of human trafficking.

Criminal complaints

According to criminal complaints, the offenses happened over a two-day period in May.

Torres and Anderson are accused of picking up the minor in Dubuque on May 21 and taking her to the Quality Inn in northeast Cedar Rapids.

They gave her drugs, including methamphetamine, and took sexually explicit photos of her they used to advertise for sex, the complaint stated.

They arranged for multiple men to come to the hotel to have sex with the minor against her will and with Torres in exchange for money. Torres and Anderson didn’t give any of the money to the minor.

Torres will claim at trial that she also is a human trafficking victim, according to a motion filed in August.

According to the criminal complaint, Anderson also sexually abused the Dubuque minor.

The minor was reported missing and located by police in Cedar Rapids and taken to a safe location.

Anderson and Torres each remain in jail under a $750,000 cash-only bail.

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