Curtis Sagmoen
Image Credit: Contributed
February 28, 2018 - 3:49 PM
VERNON - Curtis Sagmoen will remain in custody after being denied bail today on some of the eight charges against him.
Provincial Court Judge Mark Takahashi ordered that Sagmoen, 37, not be granted release with respect to some of the charges currently before the courts following a bail hearing Wednesday in Vernon. Sagmoen faces charges under three separate court events, and Takahashi granted his release on two of those cases. His next court date is March 8 to arrange dates for a preliminary inquiry.
Details of the bail hearing are protected under a routine publication ban. Reporters are barred from publishing any evidence heard, including reasons for and against Sagmoen’s release from custody.
Sagmoen was denied bail on a set of five charges stemming from an Aug. 27 offence in which he allegedly disguised his face and threatened a sex trade worker with a gun. He was granted release on charges involving alleged assaults against two other escorts, and mischief against a fourth female complainant for allegedly using spikes or a spike belt to damage her vehicle tires.
On Wednesday, Sagmoen’s lawyer Lisa Jean Helps entered not guilty pleas on all the charges. Sagmoen has elected trial by Supreme Court Judge alone on two of the cases, while the mischief charge will be heard in Provincial Court. Each of the three cases will have its own separate trial. It's expected that Sagmoen will remain in custody until his preliminary inquiry, a date for which has not yet been confirmed.
About a dozen people participated in a rally Wednesday on the courthouse steps for missing and murdered women.
Sagmoen is accused of crimes against sex trade workers who allegedly met with him after he contacted them through ads on backpage.ca, a website used by escorts in the Okanagan.
Sagmoen was arrested on an initial set of charges, which include threatening a woman with a firearm, in October of 2017. While in custody, more charges were approved after additional women came forward with other allegations. Altogether, Sagmoen is charged with offences against four female victims.
Chronologically, the first alleged incident happened July 1, when Sagmoen is accused of assaulting a woman at a location described by police as being in close proximity to 2290 Salmon River Road, just north of Vernon. That property is owned by Sagmoen’s parents and was the site of a massive police search in late 2017. The remains of missing Vernon teen Traci Genereaux were discovered on the farm while police were executing the search warrant. No charges have been laid in her suspicious death and police have not linked Sagmoen to the investigation.
Shortly after the alleged July 1 offence, Sagmoen is accused of mischief under $5000 for willfully placing spikes or nails on a board or spike belt to damage the tires of a female complainant’s vehicle on July 19. The following month, on Aug. 10, Sagmoen allegedly committed an assault causing bodily harm, also in close proximity to the farm. On Aug. 27, Sagmoen allegedly threatened an escort with a gun before she fled.
An iNFOnews.ca exclusive report revealed another woman attended the area after receiving an inquiry on her backpage.ca ad. She wasn’t assaulted, but fled fearing for her life.
Sagmoen has elected trial by judge alone in Supreme Court on five charges related to the Aug. 27 threats with a firearm case.
None of the charges 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.
According to the Criminal Code of Canada, detention is justified if one or more of the following grounds are met: the detention is necessary to ensure the accused’s attendance in court, the detention is necessary for the protection or safety of the public, including any victim of or witness to the offence, or any person under the age of 18 years, having regard to all the circumstances including any substantial likelihood that the accused will, if released from custody, commit a criminal offence or interfere with the administration of justice, and if the detention is necessary to maintain confidence in the administration of justice.
— This story was updated at 4:40 p.m. Feb. 28, 2018 with additional details.
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