Alberta Man Accused in Teen Sex Trafficking Case Back in Custody Half Hour After Release

An Alberta man charged with sexual assault, exploitation and human trafficking is back in custody half an hour after his release for allegedly breaching his bail conditions. Lethbridge Police Service photo

An Alberta man accused of sexually assaulting and trafficking a 14-year-old girl was back in handcuffs within 30 minutes of his release this week after allegedly breaching his stipulated conditions.

Lethbridge resident Skye Atoa was arrested last month and released from custody on Jan. 13 after receiving bail. Police say the 50-year-old breached the conditions of his release within half an hour of being set free.

Atoa was instructed to report to a residence mandated by the court, but after being delivered to the site, he quickly left and made his way to a store, the Lethbridge Police Service said in a Jan. 14 press release.

“Police observed the subject in the store’s perfume aisle in very close proximity to a young female, and he was immediately arrested,” police said.

Atoa was originally charged with trafficking of a person under 18, sexual assault of a child under 16, sexual interference, obtaining sexual services of a child for consideration, indecent exposure to a child under 16, sexual counsel of a child, and three counts of unlawful confinement.

He is now facing a further count of failing to comply with release order conditions and was remanded into custody following a judicial interim release hearing. He will appear before a judge again later today.

The original charges against Atoa were laid last December in connection with an investigation by Lethbridge police after receiving reports that a 14-year-old girl was being held in a downtown apartment.

Police said the girl was found inside the apartment “in medical distress” and was transported to hospital.

A man was later arrested without incident after the execution of a search warrant, and two additional girls, aged 15 and 16, were discovered within the unit.

“The 14-year-old girl reported that she had been forcibly confined and repeatedly sexually assaulted by the male and other men over a three-day period,” police said, noting that she had also been forced to consume drugs. “The 15-year-old and 16-year-old were forcibly confined to the apartment for several hours, during which time the male exposed himself.”

Tory MP Laila Goodridge took to social media to comment on the case, calling Canada’s bail system “incredibly broken.”

“How do men like this get out on bail in the first place?” the Fort McMurray, Alta. MP said in a Jan. 15 X post.

“This man drugged, forcibly confined and sexually abused children. And then was let out on bail. Make that make sense.”

Canada’s current catch-and-release bail system has been criticized by several politicians over the past few years, from Conservative MPs to premiers and law enforcement officials. A number of officials have asked Ottawa to deny bail and implement more substantial prison terms for repeat offenders.

The Liberal government tabled The Bail and Sentencing Reform Act this fall, which proposes bail reform measures including a reverse onus concerning bail for certain offences, shifting the responsibility of proof from the prosecutor to the defendant. The accused would have to demonstrate why he or she should receive bail.

The bill is currently undergoing study and review in a parliamentary committee as MPs hear witnesses and propose amendments to strengthen bail for serious offenses like human trafficking and to end home arrest for serious sexual offenses.

Previous Sex Assault Charges

Atoa had faced previous charges before the December 2025 incident. He is also facing charges in connection with a previous sexual assault last October, during which a 24-year-old vulnerable female was allegedly sexually assaulted at his residence, police said.

He was charged with sexual assault and obtaining for consideration sexual services/communicating for the purpose of sexual services in connection with the incident.

Police said evidence to date leads investigators to believe there may be additional, unidentified victims, and police are urging anyone who was victimized to come forward.

Police are also attempting to identify the female witness who was nearby at the time of Atoa’s recent arrest in the store.

She is described as having a darker complexion, with long, dark curly hair parted in the middle. She was wearing a black top, dark blue pants, and was carrying a small, white shopping bag.

The witness or anyone with information is asked to contact police.