A 25-year-old man from Airdrie was sentenced in Red Deer Court Feb. 3 to two years in prison after he pled guilty to a charge of “receiving material benefit from a child prostitute,” according to Airdrie RCMP Constable Curtis Peters.
Javyrell Baird was originally charged with human trafficking of a person under the age of 18, living off the avails of prostitution involving a person under the age of 18 and common assault but pled guilty to the lesser charge, Peters said.
Baird was arrested and charged July 29, 2015.
His name was originally not released to protect the identity of the victim, a 16-year-old girl from Airdrie, however Curtis said, “I have spoken with the family (of the victim) and I’m OK with having his name released.”
The victim was originally reported as missing by her family, according to Alberta “K” Division RCMP Media Liaison Constable Hal Turnbull.
He could not release any information about how long the investigation took.
The investigation was led by the Airdrie RCMP General Investigation Section and Crime Reduction Unit, Peters said.
According to the Action Coalition on Human Trafficking Alberta, all forms of human trafficking are prohibited in Canada under Section 279 of the Criminal Code. In Alberta, children forced into prostitution are covered under the Protection of Sexually Exploited Children and Youth Act (2010).
The act considers the purchase of sex from someone under 18 to be child abuse. According to the act, the average age of a child going into the sex trade in Alberta is 15 years of age, though children as young as 10 being involved has been reported to police.
In Canada, it is estimated that children under 18 represent 10 to 12 per cent of the individuals involved in prostitution. Ninety per cent are female, however, males are forced into prostitution as well.
If you have any information about any crime, contact the Airdrie RCMP Detachment at (403) 945-7200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at tipsubmit.com
