Police charge male with sexual assault, exploitation and human trafficking

Lethbridge Police have charged a 50-year-old male with unlawful confinement, sexual exploitation and human trafficking in connection with multiple incidents where vulnerable girls were targeted and sexually assaulted. 

On December 19, police responded to a report that a 14-year-old girl was being held in an apartment along the 500 block of 8 Street South. Upon arrival, a male answered the door and the girl was located inside in medical distress. The victim was transported to hospital. 

The male was later arrested without incident and following the execution of a search warrant, two additional girls aged 15 and 16, were found inside the unit. 

The 14-year-old girl reported that she had been forcibly confined and repeatedly sexually assaulted by the male and other men over a three-day period. During the assaults, she was also forced to consume drugs. The 15-year-old and 16-year-old were forcibly confined to the apartment for several hours, during which time the male exposed himself. 

Skye Atoa, 50, of Lethbridge, is charged with trafficking of a person under 18, sexual assault of a child under 16, sexual interference, obtaining sexual services of a child for consideration, indecent exposure to a child under 16, sexual counsel of a child and three counts of unlawful confinement. 

In addition, Atoa is also charged in connection with a previous sexual assault in October 2025, where a 24-year-old vulnerable female was sexually assaulted at his residence. In that case, Atoa is charged with sexual assault and obtaining for consideration sexual services/communicating for the purpose of sexual services.

Atoa, who has been in custody since his arrest in mid-December, was granted bail following a hearing in court Monday. He is anticipated to be released from custody today with numerous conditions. His next court appearance is February 2.

Based on the investigation and evidence to date, police believe there may be additional, unidentified victims. As part of the ongoing investigation, police are releasing Atoa’s photograph in an effort to encourage unidentified victims, who may not know him by name or many only know him by an alias, to come forward.

Anyone who has been victimized, or has further information that may assist investigators, is asked to call police at 403-328-4444 and reference file 25059360.

Anonymous online tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at www.p3tips.com or by calling 1-800-222-8477.

The investigation is ongoing.