A 50-year-old Lethbridge man faces multiple charges, including sex trafficking, after police found three teenage girls held against their will in his apartment.
Lethbridge Man Charged with Multiple Offenses Including Sex Trafficking
A 50-year-old man from Lethbridge faces several charges, including sex trafficking of teenagers. This follows the discovery of three teenage girls who reported being held against their will in his apartment.
Skye Atoa is charged with unlawful confinement, sexual exploitation, human trafficking, sexual assault, sexual interference, and obtaining sexual services of a child.
Incident Details
On December 19, officers from the Lethbridge Police Service (LPS) responded to reports that a 14-year-old girl was being held against her will in Atoa’s downtown apartment.
Police found the girl inside in medical distress. At the hospital, she told officers she had been forcibly confined for three days and sexually assaulted by Atoa and other men. She also stated she was forced to consume drugs.
A man who answered the door was arrested. When police executed a search warrant on the apartment, they found two more teenage girls, aged 15 and 16, inside.
The older teens reported being held in the apartment for several hours. They told police that Atoa had exposed himself during this time.
Additional Charges
Atoa is also charged in connection with a sexual assault that occurred in October. This involved a “vulnerable” 24-year-old woman who reported being sexually assaulted in Atoa’s home.
In that case, Atoa faces charges of sexual assault and a prostitution-related offense.
Bail Hearing and Conditions
After a bail hearing on Monday, Atoa was released under conditions. These include a no-contact and no communication order with anyone under 18 years old.
He must also avoid anyone involved in the sex trade. Additionally, Atoa is required to reside in a treatment center and receive counseling for drug abuse.
Atoa is scheduled to return to court next month. Police have released Atoa’s photograph to encourage others with information to come forward, even if they only know him by an alias.
| Charge | Description |
|---|---|
| Unlawful Confinement | Holding individuals against their will |
| Sexual Exploitation | Exploiting minors for sexual purposes |
| Human Trafficking | Trafficking individuals for sexual services |
| Sexual Assault | Assaulting individuals sexually |
| Sexual Interference | Inappropriate sexual conduct with minors |
| Obtaining Sexual Services of a Child | Engaging minors in sexual acts |
