Possible North Preston gang ties probed in sex assault case
Pair face slew of sex charges after a 15-year-old girl escaped basement
The case of two 18-year-old’s accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl and holding her in a North Preston basement for two days could be linked to a notorious gang.
Investigators are probing whether the two men have ties to North Preston’s Finest, a prostitution ring that operates in the Montreal, Toronto and Niagara area.
"Reading between the lines in the file there’s that suggestion, but there’s nothing concrete to say this is being directed by the gang North Preston’s Finest," Crown attorney Perry Borden told CBC News.
On Wednesday the two accused, Doreze Marvin Beals and Andre Jerome Gray, appeared in Dartmouth provincial court. They remain in jail and are due back for a bail hearing on April 24.
"In terms of kidnapping and sexual assault this is as bad as it gets, quite frankly," Borden said.
Beals is accused of 11 crimes:
- Human trafficking
- Kidnapping
- Unlawful confinement
- Sexual assault causing bodily harm
- Gang sexual assault
- Sexual interference
- Procuring illicit sex
- Uttering threats
- Assault with a weapon
- Possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace
- Breach of probation
Police laid eight charges against Gray:
- Human trafficking
- Kidnapping
- Unlawful confinement
- Uttering threats
- Sexual assault causing bodily harm
- Gang sexual assault
- Sexual interference
- Procuring illicit sex
Police say the teen girl escaped from the home on Clarence Street on Thursday night after being held for two days.
She was taken to the hospital and police say she's now safe.