Mercer County Man Admits Trafficking Teen Girl: Prosecutor

A Mercer County man has pleaded guilty to forcing a 17-year-old girl to engage in prostitution for his profit, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri announced. It is the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office’s first human trafficking conviction.

Breion Turner, 28, of Trenton, pleaded guilty on Feb. 26 to one count of first-degree human trafficking, Onofri said. He faces eight years in state prison, including three years, six months of parole ineligibility. He would be required to pay a $25,000 fine to the state’s Human Trafficking Survivors Assistance Fund, in addition to other fines and penalties. Sentencing is scheduled for April 27.

“This plea will ensure the defendant serves a lengthy prison sentence and pays for exploiting such a vulnerable victim,” Onofri said. “I commend our Human Trafficking Unit for its dogged investigation and want the public to know that we are committed to aggressively pursuing these predators who abuse young women and children.”

Turner held the girl against her will for four days in October of 2016, according to Onofri. He forced her to have sex with several men, threatening her physically and not letting her leave Turner’s house in Trenton. When Turner finally let the victim go, she returned home where she was confronted by her mother, who had seen a sex video of her, Onofri said.

The charges are the result of an investigation by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office Human Trafficking Unit and the Trenton Police Department. Senior Assistant Prosecutor Heather Hadley prosecuted the case for the state. Detective Alicia Bergondo of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office was lead detective on the case and Detective Robert Mathes of the Trenton Police Department initiated the investigation.

The attached image of Breion Turner was provided by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office