'I had to go into hiding': Manitoba man still being harassed after charges into alleged human trafficking ring dropped
CTV
A man whose charges were stayed following an investigation into an alleged child sex trafficking ring in Portage la Prairie says his life has been ruined.
A man whose charges were stayed following an investigation into an alleged child sex trafficking ring in Portage la Prairie says his life has been ruined.
Scott Joseph Taylor, 34, was initially charged with obtaining sexual services for consideration from a person under 18 and unsafe storage of firearms in connection with the investigation into the alleged sex trafficking announced on July 9—the investigation named seven individuals and 65 total charges.
Then, on July 19, the RCMP announced that the charges against Taylor were stayed, sending a corrected statement to the media and the public.
“The Manitoba RCMP Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit has determined that Scott Joseph Taylor, 34, named in the initial release, was not involved in this occurrence,” the statement said in part, “As a result, all charges against Scott Joseph Taylor have been formally stayed in court.”
For Taylor, it was too little, too late.
“I had to go in hiding, literally had to go in hiding, and my house was vandalized," he said on Tuesday, "I had so many death threats, like an endless amount of threats."
Taylor said he was attacked as recently as two days ago, and the phrase “CONFIRMED PEDO” was spray painted on the front of his house.