A Langley woman has been charged with 14 counts related to human trafficking, including assault, after a months-long investigation by local RCMP.
Jennifer Lynn Stephens is in custody awaiting her next court hearing. Persons charged with a criminal offence are considered not guilty until the charges are proven in court.
The investigation began on March 7 this year with a 9-1-1 call from a gas station near a hotel in the 20400-block of 88th Avenue in the Walnut Grove neighbourhood.
The station attendant had called the emergency line after an injured, distressed woman walked in and asked someone to call the police.
The first officers on the scene provided first aid, and were directed to the nearby hotel.
That began the investigation that led to StephensB次元官网网址� arrest and charges of assault.
In July, Stephens was scheduled to appear in court, but did not show up. The court issued a Canada-wide warrant for her arrest.
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Meanwhile, the investigation that had begun in March continued through the summer and fall as police looked for Stephens.
B次元官网网址淒ue to the often-hidden nature and complexity of these offences, human trafficking charges are rare in Canada,B次元官网网址� said Insp. Erica Moir, operations supportofficer of Langley RCMP.
B次元官网网址淥ur investigators worked closely with partners allowing us to support the victims, identify a suspect and successfully obtain the evidence necessary to forward criminal charges.B次元官网网址�
Those partners included the Surrey RCMP, the Vancouver Police DepartmentB次元官网网址檚 human trafficking unit, the RCMP E DivisionB次元官网网址檚 behavioural dciences unit, RCMP digital forensic services, and the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit B次元官网网址� British Columbia (CFSEU-BC) interview team.
Moir said their assistance was invaluable in the investigation.
Stephens was located in the Lower Mainland on Dec. 7, and Langley serious crime investigators arrested her on her outstanding warrants.
She now faces charges of:
B次元官网网址� Trafficking in persons
B次元官网网址� Trafficking a person under 18 years old
B次元官网网址� Receiving a material benefit from sexual services
B次元官网网址� Two counts of procuring a person under 18 years old
B次元官网网址� Two counts of receiving a material benefit from trafficking a person under 18 years old
B次元官网网址� Receiving a material benefit from the sexual services of a person under 18 years old
B次元官网网址� Forcible confinement
B次元官网网址� Assault causing bodily harm
B次元官网网址� Two counts of assault with a weapon
B次元官网网址� Uttering threats
B次元官网网址� Advertising sexual services
In addition, a Jennifer Lynn Stephens is facing charges in Surrey including unlawful confinement, robbery, assault with a weapon, and assault causing bodily harm, in a separate investigation.
Moir encouraged anyone who is a victim of human trafficking, or who knows someone who is, to call the local police department, or the 24-hour Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-833-900-1010 or you can Reach out to The Canadian Centre To End Human Trafficking.
