Curtis Sagmoen
Image Credit: Curtis Sagmoen
February 08, 2018 - 2:30 PM
VERNON - Curtis Wayne Sagmoen made his first official appearance on a set of new assault charges this morning in Vernon Provincial Court.
Sagmoen, 37, is now accused of offences against three different escorts in the North Okanagan.
Sagmoen appeared by video conference today, Feb. 8, in Vernon court, where the new charges were read aloud to him by Justice of the Peace Dalene Krenz, who also granted a Crown request for a no contact order with the alleged victims.
Lawyer Nick Jacob, appearing on behalf of Sagmoen’s legal counsel Lisa Jean Helps, asked that the matter be put over to Feb. 19, when Sagmoen is already set to have an in-person bail hearing on his original charges of threats with a firearm. He’s been held in custody since those charges were laid on Oct. 17, 2017.
The charges relate to three separate incidents involving women who attended Salmon River Road in response to inquiries on their backpage.ca ads. From May 27 to Sept. 1, Sagmoen is alleged to have committed an assault against an escort, according to court documents. On Aug. 10, he allegedly assaulted a second woman, and on Aug. 28, a third woman was allegedly threatened with a gun.
An iNFOnews.ca exclusive report revealed yet another woman attended the area after receiving an inquiry on her backpage.ca ad. She wasn’t assaulted, but fled fearing for her life.
Shadowing the growing list of allegations is the fact that Sagmoen resided at 2290 Salmon River Road, the site of a massive, three-week police search and the location where missing Vernon teen Traci Genereaux’s remains were found. No charges have been laid in connection with her suspicious death, and police have not tied Sagmoen to that case.
Genereaux was known to have worked in the sex trade and was missing for roughly five months before her remains were identified on the property, which is owned by Curtis Sagmoen's parents.
On Jan. 11, Sagmoen requested that his threats with a firearm case be heard before a judge alone in Supreme Court. He has not entered any pleas and none of the allegations have been proven in court.
Police said in a Jan. 31 press release they believe there are other victims and witnesses to similar incidents and urge anyone with information to contact the RCMP Southeast District Major Crime Unit tip line at 1-877-987-8477.
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