Halifax Regional Police have laid multiple charges against four people after a robbery call resulted in officers determining that a 16-year-old girl had been influenced for the purpose of prostitution.
According to police, shortly after 11 p.m. on Wednesday, police received a call about a robbery on Lakecrest Drive in Dartmouth involving a firearm. The 16-year-old female victim was reportedly robbed of a sum of money and some personal items.
The suspects reportedly fled in a van and were taken into custody without incident in Bedford. No one was injured during the robbery and the parties were known to each other.
READ MORE: Halifax police charge 18-year-old in wake of alleged early morning crime spree
Police say an airsoft rifle was located in the van and officers held three men and another 16-year-old girl for questioning.
Police say their investigation showed that the robbery victim had been directed and influenced for the purpose of prostitution.
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Joshua Osborn Mabie, 19, of Dartmouth will appear in Dartmouth Provincial Court today to face the following charges:
- Human trafficking of a person under the age of 18
- Material benefit from trafficking a person under the age of 18
- Procuring
- Advertising sexual services
- Robbery
- Using an imitation firearm in a commission of an offence
- Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
- Three counts of breach of a probation order
Brandon David Smith, 30, of Lower Sackville will appear in Dartmouth Provincial Court today to face the following charges:
- Human trafficking of a person under the age of 18
- Material benefit from trafficking a person under the age of 18
- Two counts of breach of probation
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Dante Keenan, 20, Longard of Dartmouth will appear in Dartmouth Provincial Court today to face the following charges:
- Robbery
- Two charges of breach of a recognizance
- Breach of a probation order
A 16-year-old female youth, whose name cannot be published because she is underage, from Halifax will appear in Halifax Provincial Court today to face the following charges:
- Robbery
- Possession of property obtained by crime less than $5000
- Breach of a recognizance
- Two counts of breach of a sentence order
- Breach of a probation order
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According to police, human trafficking is an “offence that involves controlling, forcing, intimidating or deceiving a person in order to exploit them through various forms of sexual exploitation or forced labour.”
Halifax police are reminding citizens that human trafficking can occur in a city of any size and that Halifax is not immune. Anyone with information about human trafficking is urged to contact police.
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