Sydney man facing prostitution related offences under new law

[Escapefromstress 2976]

SYDNEY â?? A 32-year-old Sydney man has the dubious distinction of being the first on the island to face charges under new laws titled Prostitution of Communities and Exploited Persons Act.

Curtis Matthew Rose, 32, of Ferry Street, is charged with three offences under the new act.

He is charged with communicating with individuals directly and through websites for the purpose of obtaining the sex services of a Sydney man. The maximum penalty under the section is five years in prison or a $2,000 on a first conviction.

Rose is also charged with receiving a material benefit, money, by providing the male for sexual services. The maximum penalty for the charge is 10 years in jail.

The third count alleges Rose procured the sexual services of the Sydney man by exploiting him with threats of making false allegations to children's aid. The complainant is believed to be a father of two children. The maximum penalty on that count is 14 years.

The offences are alleged to have occurred between November 2014 and March of this year in Sydney.

Rose has been released on conditions that include having no contact with the complainant and he is not allowed to possess any weapons.

He is now scheduled to enter pleas to the charges July 20.

A spokesperson for Cape Breton Regional Police said Friday the charges are the result of an ongoing and extensive investigation to recent prostitution activity in downtown Sydney.

The new federal laws flow from a Supreme Court of Canada decision that struck down the nation's former laws on prostitution.

For the first time in Canadian law, it is now a crime to purchase sexual services in hopeful bid to reduce demand for such services.

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