PICCADILLY, N.L.—A man is facing charges after police found two young girls hidden in a secret compartment under the living room of a home in western Newfoundland.

RCMP say the 41-year-old man is subject to a court order that prohibits him from being in the company of anyone under the age of 16, unless they are supervised by an adult.

The girls in this case are 12 and 13 years old.

Police say they received a complaint about the man late Monday, alleging he was with young girls at a home in the Piccadilly area.

RCMP Sgt. Boyd Merrill says officers spotted the girls with the man when they looked through a window, but they could not be seen when the officers entered the residence.

Merrill says the girls were soon found in a crawl space under the floorboards.

“When they were asked to come out, they wouldn't even come out, initially,” Merrill said in an interview. “They were shaking and nervous. . . We don't know what went on.”

The dirt-floor crawl space was covered by a plywood hatch, which was concealed under a carpet, he said.

“We've tried to interview the young girls to determine if they willingly went down there,” the officer said. “The information that we have right now means we will pursue this further.”

The man — who police did not identify — is facing charges of breaching a court order and supplying minors with alcohol.