THUNDER BAY - A third person alleged to have been involved in the procurement of an underage girl for the purposes of prostitution dating back to the late 1990s has been charged and released on bail.
Helen Charette, 43, turned herself into police on the weekend and was charged with three counts of procuring as it relates to prostitution under the Criminal Code of Canada, as well as sexual exploitation, and living on the avails of prostitution of an individual under the age of 18.
The incidents are alleged to have taken place in the city of Thunder Bay between November 1998 and March 2000.
Charette is one of three individuals facing charges in connection to the alleged incidents. Other accused include 52-year-old Pierre Marier and 63-year-old Dawn Proulx, who are facing similar charges of procurement under the Criminal Code of Canada, as well as sexual exploitation. Marier is also facing an additional charge of assault with weapon.
Charette appeared via video in a Thunder Bay Courtroom on Monday before Justice of the Peace Marcel Donio for a bail hearing.
The Crown was not consenting to her release but Donio agreed with submissions by defense counsel Kate Brindley to release Charette on a $1,000 no deposit bail with conditions, including residing with a surety.
Marier remains in custody and will appear in court later this week, while Proulx has since been released on bail.
