Man convicted of pimping near St. John's courthouse

Justice came full circle on Wednesday at a St. John's courthouse, where a man was found guilty of running a prostitution business on the same street.

Shawn Newman, 33, was found guilty on seven of the 10 charges heard in his trial, most involving two young prostitutes who had turned over their earnings to him.

Both complainants were teenagers while they worked for Newman, a Mount Pearl resident. One is still only 16.

Newfoundland Supreme Court Justice Wayne Dymond found Newman guilty of five prostitution-related charges, including living off the avails of prostitution, as well as one charge each of common assault and assault with a weapon.

Court heard Newman had controlled young prostitutes who worked along Duckworth Street, one testifying she worked for Newman across the street from the imposing St. John's courthouse.

One witness told the court she was paid in crack cocaine.

Dymond released Newman from custody after his mother posted a surety of $5,000. He is to appear in court for a sentencing hearing on Jan. 11.

On the terms of his release, Newman is not allowed to leave the Avalon Peninsula. He was asked to surrender his passport, although he did not have one.

At the end of the hearing, Newman thanked Dymond for allowing his release.

His mother, Eileen Newman, was overcome with emotion when approached by CBC News. She said she could not comment on the verdict.

During the trial, Eileen Newman testified that her son— who lived at her home— was bipolar and had attention deficit disorder.

Dymond expressed sympathy for Eileen Newman in his decision.

"It would be fair to say that this whole event must have come as a bit of a shock to her and a very sad and embarrassing experience for her and her family once the facts became evident to her," Dymond wrote in a decision read Wednesday.

Shawn Newman had no comment as he was escorted from the courtroom, before the paperwork was processed forhis release.