Man pleads guilty to advertising woman for sex on online marketplace

Cody James Barnes, 42, pleaded guilty Wednesday to advertising an offer for sexual services after posting photos of a woman to a sex-trade message board, arranging clients, and pocketing a share of the payments.

Barnes admitted to exploiting a vulnerable woman who met him in early 2019 when she was in financial trouble. She believed he was her boyfriend, but he quickly created a profile for her on LeoList, a marketplace popular in the sex trade. When she asked him to remove photos showing her full face, he refused and used coercion to keep her working: "NN felt she could not stop as the accused had told her he would tell her family that she was working in the sex trade if she didn't continue to work for him," prosecutor Rayne Thompson told Court of King's Bench Justice Steven Mandziuk.

Police began investigating Barnes in May 2019. He initially faced five counts including human trafficking, procuring, and extortion. He pleaded guilty to the single charge of advertising an offer for sexual services with the Crown's consent, though the reasons for the years-long delay are unclear.

Justice Mandziuk noted Barnes appeared nervous during the proceedings and asked if he needed water. Sentencing has been postponed until after September 4 to allow time for a presentence report. Barnes remains free on bail.

Barnes has a prior criminal record, the court heard.