Alleged human trafficker granted bail again after Halifax arrest on breach charges

HALIFAX, N.S. — A Halifax judge has granted bail again to a man awaiting trial on human trafficking charges after he was arrested Oct. 10 for allegedly violating his release conditions.

Edward Duane Garinger, 50, of no fixed address was picked up by police in Ontario in June and transported to Nova Scotia to face charges. 

He was subsequently 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.

Garinger was first granted bail Sept. 7 in Halifax provincial court after posting a $3,000 deposit. He was placed on house arrest at a home on Highway 224 in Upper Musquodoboit and ordered to wear an electronic ankle bracelet.

He was re-arrested Oct. 10 in Halifax and charged with two counts of breaching his house arrest conditions. Police allege the breaches were committed Sept. 12 in Bedford and Oct. 10 in Halifax.

The Crown then applied to revoke Garinger’s earlier bail and opposed his release.

A bail hearing was held this week in provincial court. Judge Ann Marie Simmons heard evidence and arguments from Crown attorney Jillian Fage and defence lawyer Leslie Hogg on Tuesday and gave her decision Thursday.

There’s a publication ban on details of the hearing, including the reasons for the judge’s decision to release Garinger on a new bail order with a $2,000 deposit.

Garinger will again be on house arrest at the Upper Musquodoboit address and must wear an electronic ankle bracelet.

The monitoring company must give Halifax Regional Police the information they need to track Garinger’s location by GPS. If the ankle bracelet breaks or malfunctions, Garinger must notify police immediately.

Garinger was also ordered to report to Halifax police by phone every Friday and have no contact with the complainant and another woman. He also cannot be within 25 metres of their homes, schools or workplaces.

There are exceptions to the house arrest for medical emergencies and appointments, legal commitments and four hours every Monday afternoon for the purpose of attending to personal needs.

Unlike the first bail order, there is no exception for regularly scheduled employment with a Bedford moving company between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Police announced charges against Garinger on June 27, saying they had received a report in March of human trafficking that was occurring 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.

Garinger also goes by the names Edward Morrison and Ted Morrison, police said.

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

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

The newer charges will be back in court Nov. 6 for election and plea.