Tony Humby charged with 7 counts of child trafficking
Alleged victim welcomes new charges, hopes Humby spends life in prison
Tony Humby, a man already facing more than 70 charges related to the alleged abuse and exploitation of youths, has been charged with seven counts of trafficking persons under the age of 18.
He had a brief appearance by video at provincial court in St. John's on Wednesday afternoon.
One of the alleged victims, identified as John Doe # 2406 in civil court documents and previous CBC Investigates coverage, says he was informed of the new charges by Royal Newfoundland Constabulary late Tuesday evening.
John Doe hopes the charges bring more serious consequences.
"It's a good thing to know that he's being charged with it, and hopefully he's in jail for the rest of his life," John Doe said.
Case continues to evolve
Humby was first arrested on April 6, 2023, after an investigation into allegations that vulnerable teens were being abused in a St. John's trailer park.
The number of charges has continued to climb since his arrest, as new complainants came forward and more information came to light.
Before Wednesday, he was facing 72 charges in relation to 11 alleged victims.
CBC Investigates previously reported on search warrant documents — which contain allegations yet to be tested in court — that showed police were investigating Humby and his co-accused, Bruce Escott, for human trafficking.
- Police investigated central figures in St. John's exploitation case for human trafficking
- A darkness on the edge of town: Sexual abuse allegations detailed in unsealed court documents
One section of the 355-page document said investigators were "unable to formulate reasonable and probable grounds for charges in relation to human trafficking" at that stage, while noting "it will be revisited pending any further information."
It's not clear what further information has come to light.
Humby has pleaded not guilty to 33 charges so far, and intends to take his case to trial in March. He's yet to enter a plea on 39 additional charges laid in September, or the seven new charges laid on Wednesday.
Escott, meanwhile, pleaded guilty to seven charges including sexual assault and sexual interference in late November. He's scheduled for a sentencing hearing on Jan. 31.
Escott is not facing human trafficking charges.
Rare charge for N.L. court system
Human trafficking involves the recruitment or transportation of a person for the purpose of exploitation.
It is an extremely rare charge in Newfoundland and Labrador, with only two cases making it to court over the past 15 years. Charges were withdrawn in both those cases.
There is a separate offence under Canadian law for trafficking persons under the age of 18, which is punishable by a maximum of 14 years in prison, or life imprisonment in cases that involve aggravated sexual assault. Humby is charged under that section of the Criminal Code.
WATCH:The CBC's Ryan Cooke reports on the latest charges against Tony Humby who's already faces 70 offences:
John Doe said he wants the Crown to pursue consecutive sentences — meaning they'd run end to end, rather than simultaneously — if Humby is convicted.
"It'll be put behind me. It'll be put behind other victims. But we still gotta live with the ... fact that we got raped," he alleged.
In an ideal situation, John Doe said the Crown should seek a dangerous offender status for Humby — which would result in an indefinite prison sentence.
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