Pimp receives a 14-year prison term for luring underage victims
A Vancouver pimp who lured nine young victims into prostitution has been sentenced to 14 years in prison.
In imposing sentence on Michael William Bannon, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Gregory Bowden said the aggravating factors included that Bannon began his criminal enterprise within days of his release from serving a lengthy federal prison term.
Bannon procured one of his victims while he was on parole, encouraged the young women he targeted to provide unprotected sex, introduced some of the victims to drugs and took half of the money from their sexual services.
“His business generated substantial sums of money through the exploitation of vulnerable young persons,” said the judge.
Seven of the nine complainants were girls under the age of 18 with one of them 14. One female victim was 18 years old and one was a teenage boy. The offences occurred in 2014 and 2015.
The judge said the victim impact statements provided to him were “very compelling” and highlight the mental and physical harm they suffered at the hands of Bannon, who pleaded guilty to 22 of 25 criminal charges laid against him.
“At this point, I would like to acknowledge the courage of the young women and one young man for being prepared to testify in court with respect to these offences,” said the judge. “It would have been a very difficult experience for them.”
After Bannon, 35, entered his plea, the Crown and the defence argued he should receive a 14-year jail term.
The judge said he was satisfied of the need for the joint submission, noting it called for a sentence that was similar to offenders convicted of conspiracy to commit murder or manslaughter.
“I am satisfied that the global sentence agreed to by the Crown and defence is fit and appropriate and is not contrary to the public interest,” said Bowden.
“The sentence reflects the very serious nature of the offences committed by Mr. Bannon, the terrible effect that they have had on the victims and serves some notice to those who might contemplate a similar enterprise that they are likely to be detected and will face a lengthy term of imprisonment if they are convicted.”
After receiving credit for pre-sentence custody, Bannon will have a little over 10 years in prison remaining.
In addition to the jail time, Bannon will be on the sex offender registry for life, will have a lifetime weapons ban and will be required to provide a DNA sample. He will also be banned from having any contact with his victims and after he is released from prison must have no contact with any persons under the age of 16 unless it is under the supervision of someone approved by the court.
After his release, Bannon will also be banned from using the internet or other digital networks for life unless approved by the court.
Diane Sowden, executive director of Children of the Street Society, told reporters she would have liked to see more jail time for Bannon and added the Vancouver police did an “absolutely wonderful” job of supporting victims.
She said she was pleased Bannon got a lifetime ban on the use of the internet, given he used it to procure many of his victims.