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Suspect In Trafficking Of Girl, 14, Opts To Stay In Jail Cell Over Facing Media

The Canadian Press, 21 Mar, 2016 01:06 PM

HALIFAX — A Halifax-area man accused of trafficking a 14-year-old girl skipped a court appearance Monday, preferring to stay in jail because he didn't want to face the media, his lawyer said.

"He's aware that it's been in the press," defence lawyer Kai Glasgow said outside court. "He just didn't want to go through that this morning."

Owen Ross Gibson-Skeir, 20, was arrested Saturday, a day after Halifax police asked for the public's help in finding him.

Gibson-Skeir is now facing nearly a dozen charges, including sexual assault, advertising sexual services and trafficking a person under the age of 18.

Police said the man was listed as wanted after an investigation into the alleged sexual exploitation of a 14-year-old girl over the last two months.

In court, Glasgow waived the formal reading of the charges and agreed to have his client return to court on April 20 for a possible bail hearing or plea. The accused consented to be returned to custody.

When asked if the charge against his client is unusual, Glasgow said: "I would say, once every couple of months you'll see charges like this, unfortunately."

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