Brothers enter guilty pleas in Halifax human-trafficking case

Two brothers pleaded guilty Monday in Halifax provincial court to charges involving a young woman they were accused of forcing into the sex trade.

Leslie Burton Gray, 25, of Halifax admitted committing four offences — advertising sexual services, receiving material benefit from prostitution, receiving material benefit from human trafficking and uttering threats.

Andre Jerome Gray, 21, of Dartmouth pleaded guilty to a single count of uttering threats. The offences were committed in Halifax Regional Municipality between June 2015 and October 2016.

The Grays were arrested last March following an investigation by members of the Halifax Regional Police-rcmp vice unit. The victim, whose identity is protected by a publication ban, was 22 at that time.

The brothers were scheduled to go to trial Monday on humantrafficking charges but their lawyers negotiated the guilty pleas with prosecutors Melanie Perry and Cory Roberts.

Leslie Gray was also charged with sexually assaulting the woman, assault with a weapon and assault. Mathieu Boutet of Moncton is his lawyer, while Jonathan Hughes of Dartmouth represents Andre Gray.

Judge Elizabeth Buckle adjourned sentencing until Friday to allow the victim to file an impact statement with the court.

Perry said she anticipates there will be a joint sentencing recommendation for Andre Gray but a contested sentencing for his brother.

Andre Gray was denied bail last March; Leslie Gray never applied for release.

In April 2014, Andre Gray was charged with human trafficking, sexual assault and other offences after a 15-year-old girl said she was held against her will in the basement of a home in North Preston. Rather than go to trial, he pleaded guilty to charges of assault and forcible confinement and was sentenced in February 2016 to time served, which was about 22 months.