Young girls aged 11 to 14 are frequently targeted by human traffickers for entry into the sordid world as labor or sex slaves.

Those were three key take-aways from the sobering documentary “Gridshock” which had its local premier Sunday at the Orpheum Theater before an audience of approximately 100.

The nearly one-hour documentary by writer, director and producer Vanessa McNeal was filmed in Des Moines.

“Gridshock” examined how victims are skillfully recruited as sex slaves.

CONTRIBUTED GRAPHIC “Gridshock” the sobering documentary about sex trafficking had its local premier Sunday at the Orpheum Theater.

A recruiter “grooms” the victim by providing companionship, food, shelter and more.

Once firmly in their grasp, the recruiter exploits them, making them sell sex to men from all backgrounds.

If victims refuse, they can be beaten, tortured or murdered.

McNeal said in a panel discussion following the premier that human trafficking is everywhere and not strictly a “foreign” or “urban” problem.

To exemplify her point, Rev. Wally Paige of Marshalltown, a community volunteer for the local L.A.S.T. — Labor and Sex Trafficking — Watch group, had shown attendees before the premier a long list of Iowa offenders who had been convicted on state or federal charges of human trafficking.

They were arrested in communities ranging from rural of Decorah and Nevada to urban centers such as Waterloo and Des Moines.

President Barack Obama identified sex trafficking as a significant crime in 2012.

Consequently, since then federal prosecutors had been aggressively sentencing perpetrators.

However, those caught by local law enforcement are tried by the state system, and McNeal said much harsher penalties must be assigned to those offenders who may serve as little as 18 months once plea bargaining, good behavior and other issues are factored in.

Lynne Carroll, volunteer chairperson with LAST Watch, said the premier is about informing Marshalltown of the seriousness of the problem.

Awareness of human trafficking has risen in Marshalltown, she said. Carroll and LAST Watch have spoken to various groups and the Marshalltown Police Departments has placed attention on educating young people.

“This is to help people see that it happens here,” Carroll said. “They are not completely protected from things like this happening.”

Earlier this year Carroll and volunteers earmarked 47 local businesses to give cards and accompanying letters to the hotel/motel, fast food and gas station industries.

The card’s objectives are to train employees working with the public to see signs of human trafficking in victims and perpetrators and to provide guidance of what to do when human trafficking is suspected.

Following a discussion, Gridshock was shown at 4 p.m.

“Approximately 100 turning out for a documentary is exceptional,” Orpheum Theater executive director Bob Untiedt of Marshalltown said of the first showing.

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Contact Mike Donahey at 641-753-6611

or mdonahey@timesrepublican.com