Final member of Caledonia sex-trafficking group sentenced

A woman who exerted “tremendous control” over a vulnerable, sex-trafficked teenager may have been victimized, said a Superior Court judge Tuesday, but it doesn’t excuse her role as the main link in a low-key criminal organization.

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Carly Creor – the final member of a group of adults residing in Caledonia, who marketed and transported a newly-turned Brantford 18-year-old for sex – was sentenced to two years less 63 days of time already served.

“She was, in some way, a victim herself,” agreed Justice Paul Sweeny “however, she continued in her role. She was part of a criminal organization, the victim was young, vulnerable and a drug addict and (Creor) required her to do things she did not want to do.

“Carly Creor exerted tremendous control over (the victim) and wanted to be in touch at all times.”

Weighing against that was the fact Creor had no previous record, expressed her remorse for the months she helped shop the girl around southern Ontario, has a very low risk of re-offending and is supported by her family.

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“There are lots of victims in this situation,” Creor’s lawyer Scott Reid said after the hearing. “Frankly, Ms. Creor was one of them.”

Now 30, Creor admitted being part of the group led by drug dealer Daniel Campbell, who drew in the Brantford girl as soon as she turned 18. The teen was advertised in a variety of online magazines, set up with ‘dates’, folded with drugs and pushed into having sex with more and more clients.

Prosecutors Susan Orlando and Heather Palin previously won sentences against three of the other members of the group: Daniel Campbell, the undisputed leader of the group, was sentenced to 10 1/2 years in prison; Dragisa Lucic, who was Creor’s partner at the time, was sentenced to six-and-a-half years; and Joshua Hillock, who was a driver and sometimes delivered food or drugs to the victim, was sentenced to four years.

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Each sentence was reduced by time already served.

Another person charged, Crystal-Anne Marier, was acquitted after convincing the court she had only been part of the group because Campbell was her partner and drug dealer and she had a serious addiction at the time of her involvement.

In an agreed statement of fact, Creor admitted to posting ads for sex, setting prices and connecting with clients. She also berated the victim – who was called ‘Kim’ or “Emma’ in the ads – when she missed appointments.

The group collectively referred to the woman in code, saying things like the dog needs to be fed or the dog has to be walked.

Creor’s lawyer also pointed out his client had tried to remove herself from the group. It was acknowledged Creor had researched online the topics of intimate partner abuse and how to kill herself.

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Reid argued that justice could be served by sentencing Creor to a term of house arrest and a long probation.

But, it was also agreed Creor took out her frustrations on the victim if the girl missed appointments or went to eat without first getting permission.

Creor also ordered the victim to perform sex acts she didn’t want to and made her take ‘out calls’ or ‘car calls’ where she put clients in their homes or vehicles.

Eventually the exhausted young woman called police from a Guelph hotel room and asked for help.

In January, Creor pleaded guilty to, and was convicted of, trafficking in a person and advertising sexual services.

Minutes after his client was sentenced to the highest provincial jail sentence of two years, less time already served, Reid asked the judge to increase the sentence to two years plus 63 days, giving Creor just enough time to get into a prison but still be subjected to a probation period.

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Creor wept as she faced the federal penitentiary term, repeatedly hugging her crying mother and sister before being led away by an officer.

“A woman who was victimized herself, by the very people who coerced her into engaging in this sort of behavior in the first place, is going off to serve a prison sentence,” said Reid afterwards.

“It doesn’t help her, doesn’t help her rehabilitation and does very little to keep the community safe. Incarceration should be an absolute last resort. I don’t think it was necessary in this case and it’s regrettable the judge felt otherwise.”

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