Regina - Charges Laid

Heather Polischuk reports for the Regina [I]Leader-Post[/I], 10 May 2012:

[url]http://www.leaderpost.com/news/Regina+police+bust+suspected+brothel/6602288/story.html[/url]

[INDENT]REGINA â?? A two-month-long investigation led to charges this week against two people, including one accused of keeping a suspected brothel.

According to information from the Regina Police Service, members of the vice unit were looking into alleged prostitution-related offences as a result of monitoring online ads for escort agencies. The investigation, which began March 13, led police to a location on the 6500 block of Rochdale Boulevard suspected of being a brothel.

While few details are being released at this time about the investigation, police have said they arrested two people from Regina â?? Kevin James Brunette, 42, and Farrah-Marie Lynn Ryder, 21 â?? without incident on Wednesday night at the Rochdale Boulevard location.

Brunette is facing seven charges, including two counts of living on the avails of prostitution (in relation to females aged 19 and 21) and one count each of living on the avails of prostitution of a person under 18 (a 15-year-old female), attempting to obtain the sexual services of a person under 18, making available child pornography, keeping a common bawdy house, and breaching a condition of his undertaking relating to contact with individuals under 16. Brunette had already been facing a number of older charges, including allegations heâ??d procured the sexual services of underage individuals. The undertaking heâ??s alleged to have breached relates to his release on those previous charges.

Ryder is facing one charge of making child pornography. She is alleged to have taken at least one sexually explicit photograph of the 15-year-old female.

In relation to both accused, the offences are alleged to have occurred between March 13 and May 2.

Both individuals made their first appearances at Regina Provincial Court Thursday.

Brunette appeared to have trouble breathing initially and told the judge he is on oxygen. Deputy sheriffs brought him an oxygen tank moments later. Brunette learned the Crown is opposed to his release and is applying to revoke his previous bail. His charges are expected to be back in court Friday.

The Crown was initially opposed to Ryderâ??s release but had a change of mind later in the day, agreeing to release her on a number of conditions. Ryder returns to court later this month.

Regina Police Service spokeswoman Elizabeth Popowich acknowledged charges related to bawdy houses arenâ??t overly common in this city.

â??It isnâ??t a charge that we see very often,â? she said. â??I know that they can be some pretty complicated investigations and obviously you have to have the evidence to support the charge, so I guess that evidence can sometimes be difficult to come by.â?

The investigation into the allegations is ongoing.[/INDENT]