A man and a male youth face prostitution and human trafficking charges as a result of an investigation by the Vice Unit of the Integrated Criminal Investigation Division.
In early March, the Vice Unit launched an investigation regarding a 16-year-old male youth and 25-year-old man procuring a 17-year-old female youth, a 16-year-old male youth and a 19-year-old woman, for the purpose of prostitution. The investigation led officers to conduct two searches on April 23, one at a residence in the 0-100 block of Hastings Drive in Dartmouth and the other in the 100 block of Old Sambro Road in Halifax. Officers arrested both suspects and seized evidence.
A 16-year-old male youth from Dartmouth was held in custody overnight and will appear in Halifax Provincial Youth Court today to face the following charges:
- Procuring a person (underage victim) to offer or provide sexual services for consideration
- Knowing, advertising an offer to provide sexual services for consideration
- Receiving a financial or other material benefit obtained by or derived from the commission of the purchasing offence (underage victim)
- Making child pornography
- Making available child pornography
- Possessing child pornography
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Trafficking a person under the age of 18
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Material benefit
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Exercises control, direction or influence of movements of a person to aid in prostitution
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Living wholly or in part off the avails of prostitution
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Procuring prostitution
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Trafficking a person under the age of 18
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Trafficking in persons
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Exercises control, direction or influence of movements of a person to aid in prostitution
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Failure to comply with Recognizance
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Failure to comply with Probation (x2)
Twenty-five-year-old Richard Hover Cooper was held in custody overnight and will appear in Dartmouth Provincial Court today to face the following charges:
- Procuring a person (underage victim) to offer or provide sexual services for consideration
- Knowing, advertising an offer to provide sexual services for consideration
- Receiving a financial or other material benefit obtained by or derived from the commission of the purchasing offence (underage victim)
- Trafficking a person under the age of 18 (x2)
- Material benefit (x2)
- Sexual Assault
- Making child pornography
- Procuring prostitution (x2)
- Trafficking a person under the age of 18
- Exercises control, direction or influence of movements of a person to aid in prostitution
- Assault
Richard Hover Cooper, who has been remanded since his arrest in April, is scheduled to appear in Halifax Provincial Court later today to answer to these additional charges.
Investigators believe there are more victims and urge anyone with information about this investigation or sexual exploitation and human trafficking to contact police at 902-490-5016. Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers by calling toll-free 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submitting a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca or texting a tip – Tip 202 + your message to 274637.
Source: Release