Court orders alleged human trafficker from Pictou County to switch addresses

HALIFAX, NS — A Pictou County man charged with pimping in the Halifax area involving two teenage girls has been granted court approval to move to another address while out on bail.

Shane Jason Mahar, 49, of Trenton was arrested May 26 and charged with two counts of trafficking a person under the age of 18 and communicating for the purpose of obtaining sexual services from a person under the age of 18 and one count of possession of child pornography.

Mahar was granted bail with the consent of the Crown in Halifax Provincial Court on 9 June. His $10,000 bail required him to live with his surety, his aunt, in a house in McLellans Brook, Pictou County, and observe a curfew from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.

After several reports of people driving and parking in the cul-de-sac over the weekend, RCMP warned the public to stop searching for Mahar. An RCMP spokesman said vigilance would not be tolerated.

On Thursday, Mahar appeared in court again with his new lawyer, Matt Kennedy, asking to live in a house in Trenton.

Kennedy said Mahar’s aunt, who accompanied him to court, will also live in the residence.

Crown attorney Alicia Kennedy, unrelated to the defense attorney, did not object to the request, so it was quickly approved by Judge Kelly Serbu.

Mahar is one of three men charged in a human trafficking investigation in the Halifax region that began in January.

He is not allowed to have contact with the six alleged victims who have reported to the criminal investigation department or who are within a radius of 50 meters from their place of residence, school or workplace.

Mahar is also unable to associate with his two co-defendants or communicate with anyone under the age of 18 except his son.

He may only be in the Regional Municipality of Halifax for court cases and medical emergencies or appointments.

In addition, Mahar is prohibited from possessing or using alcohol or drugs and from entering parks, playgrounds, schools, community centers and other places frequented by people under the age of 18.

First arrest

Adam Ray Greenlaw, 40, of Halifax was the first man arrested during the investigation. He has been behind bars since April 28 and has not applied for bail on his 43 charges, which involve six teenage girls or young women.

Greenlaw’s charges include six counts of assault, three counts each of sexual interference, obtaining anyone under the age of 18 to provide sexual services for a fee, and making and possessing child pornography, and two counts each of trafficking from anyone under the age of 18, receiving material benefit from that trafficking, and receiving material benefit from sexual services rendered by a person under the age of 18.

Richard Walter Beaver, 33, of Dartmouth, was arrested May 30 on suspicion of trafficking a person under the age of 18. He was released on $4,000 bail that day and must live with his bail in Dartmouth and follow a 9 p.m. curfew until 6:00 am.

The charges against all three men will go to court on June 27.

Police claim the crimes were committed between May 2021 and April this year.