Accused in Halifax human trafficking case charged with breaching bail conditions

HALIFAX, N.S. — A man who was arrested in Ontario in June and brought to Nova Scotia to face human trafficking charges is back behind bars after allegedly violating his bail conditions. 

Edward Duane Garinger, 50, was granted bail with strict conditions Sept. 7 in Halifax provincial court after posting a $3,000 deposit.

Garinger was placed on house arrest at an address on Highway 224 in Upper Musquodoboit and ordered to wear an electronic ankle bracelet.

He was prohibited from having contact with the complainant and another woman and from being within 25 metres of their homes, schools or workplaces.

There were exceptions to his house arrest for regularly scheduled employment with a Bedford moving company between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., medical emergencies and appointments, legal commitments and four hours every Sunday afternoon for attending to personal needs.

Garinger was re-arrested this Tuesday and charged with two counts of breaching his house arrest conditions.

Police allege the breaches were committed Sept. 12 in Bedford and Tuesday in Halifax.

The Crown has applied to revoke Garinger’s release. A bail hearing was supposed to be held Thursday, when Garinger appeared in provincial court, but was adjourned until Oct. 20 at his request.

Defence lawyer Leslie Hogg told the court she is trying to work out new release terms with Crown attorney Jillian Fage.

Garinger, who had no fixed address when he was picked up by Ontario police, is charged with human trafficking, receiving material benefit from human trafficking, procuring someone to provide sexual services for consideration, receiving material benefit from sexual services, advertising sexual services and breaching two recognizances from December 2001, almost 22 years ago.

Halifax Regional Police announced the charges against Garinger on June 27, saying they had received a report in March of human trafficking that was taking place in the Halifax area.

Members of the HRP-RCMP integrated human trafficking team identified Garinger as a suspect, a news release said, and he was apprehended in the Niagara region.

Police allege the pimping-related offences were committed in Halifax between Jan. 20 and March 31 of this year. The identity of the alleged victim, a woman, is protected by a publication ban.

Garinger pleaded not guilty to all the charges in provincial court in August. His trial is set for six days in April 2024.