A 51-year-old man from Quebec is facing several charges from a human trafficking investigation that began in Dundurn conducted by Saskatchewan RCMP’s Human Trafficking and Counter Exploitation Unit (HTCEU), part of the Saskatchewan Enforcement Response Teams (SERT), and Saskatoon RCMP Detachment.
On Wednesday, October 23, Saskatoon RCMP were dispatched to a business on a report of a kidnapping.
Officers located an adult female from Ontario who was held against her will. Officers contacted HTCEU investigators, who began a human trafficking investigation.
It was determined the woman had been forcibly taken from Toronto and that human trafficking had occurred in various locations in Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
As a result of investigation, 51-year-old Pierre Andre Bouchard of Chambly, QC, is charged with:
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one count, trafficking in persons, Section 279.01, Criminal Code;
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one count, trafficking in persons – material benefit, Section 279.02(1), Criminal Code;
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one count, forcible confinement, Section 279(2), Criminal Code;
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one count, sexual assault, Section 271, Criminal Code;
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one count, sexual assault with other weapon, Section 272(1)(a), Criminal Code;
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one count, material benefit from sexual services, Section 286.2(1), Criminal Code;
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one count, obtaining sexual services for consideration, Section 286.1(1), Criminal Code;
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two counts, procuring, Section 286.3(1), Criminal Code;
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one count, uttering threats against a person, Section 264.1(1)(a), Criminal Code;
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one count, assault with weapon, Section 267(a), Criminal Code;
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one count, fail to comply probation order, Section 733.1(1), Criminal Code;
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one count, identity theft, 402.2(1), Criminal Code; and
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one count, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, Section 354(1)(a), Criminal Code.
Bouchard was arrested on October 23. He made his first court appearance on October 24 and made his second court appearance on October 28. Bouchard was remanded into custody for his next court appearance in Saskatoon on November 5.
Saskatchewan RCMP's Saskatoon Detachment, Yorkton Saskatchewan Trafficking Response Team, Saskatoon General Investigation Section, Saskatoon Police Services’ VICE Unit and Victim Services, Regina Police Service’s VICE Unit, Toronto Police Service and Brandon Police Service assisted in this continuing investigation, along with additional community partners.
If you have information about this or any other incident of human trafficking, or if you or someone you know may be a victim of it, call 310-RCMP.