The Edmonton Police Service has arrested and charged a male youth allegedly involved in sexually exploiting a girl under the age of 18 for profit.
On Wednesday, April 17 an 16-year-old male was taken into custody following an investigation into the sexual exploitation of a girl under the age of 18.
He has since been charged with:
- Procuring a person under 18
- Trafficking of a person under 18 and
- Obtaining material benefit from the sexual service of a person under 18
In late March, police received a tip that an underage girl may be involved in the sex trade and was in need of intervention.
On Thursday, April 5 police found the young female in a hotel on the city’s south side that had reportedly been held against her will for over a week and forced into the local sex trade.
The girl was reportedly confined and sexually trafficked by another underage male who she met at a local mall. Police say the two allegedly spent time together for a month and the male showered her with expensive gifts until he held her against her will, and began trafficking her for sex.
"It's our opinion that he was acting alone," Staff Sgt. Dale Johnson said. "I think he probably had been educated or made aware of this crime type or the potential money that is able to be made but in this sitauation he was acting alone."
For her safety, she was apprehended under the Protection of Sexually Exploited Children Act and has since been given help and support through Alberta Children’s Services.
