Man accused of assaulting escorts pleads guilty to a reduced charge of assault on sex worker

PORT COQUITLAM — A man who faces a series of charges, including alleged assaults of escorts in the North Okanagan, has pleaded guilty to assault in an unrelated incident involving a sex worker in Maple Ridge in 2013.

Curtis Wayne Sagmoen was initially charged with assault causing bodily harm, but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge Monday in provincial court in Port Coquitlam.

The trial was scheduled for five days, but was shortened to a day when Crown prosecutor Juan O’Quinn and defence lawyer Lisa Jean Helps made a joint submission agreeing to the guilty plea on the lesser charge and a recommended sentence.

Court heard that on Jan. 6, 2013, Sagmoen contacted the woman, whose identity is protected by a publication ban, in response to an advertisement posted online for massage escort services.

She arrived at a townhouse in Maple Ridge that Helps said Sagmoen shared with his brother.

Sagmoen and the woman had a dispute over money, which resulted in an injury to the back of her head. She ran away and Sagmoen followed her, but the dispute was overheard by a neighbour who called the police, court heard.

At the time of the incident, Sagmoen was addicted to crystal methamphetamine.

Helps said Sagmoen, 38, has no criminal record and works as a pipefitter.

He was sentenced to 30 days in jail and two years’ probation, but his jail time is considered already served because he remains in custody on other allegations. Sagmoen faces a series of other charges including assault causing bodily harm and assault with a weapon, but none of the allegations in those cases has been tested in court.

Police have said the alleged victims worked as escorts in the North Okanagan and advertised their services online.