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Prosecutors are seeking a sentence of at least six years in prison for a Halifax woman convicted of pimping a 16-year-old girl.

A sentencing hearing got underway Monday in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Halifax for Renee Allison Webber, 43.

A jury found Webber guilty in September on five charges: trafficking a person under the age of 18, receiving material benefits from that trafficking, advertising sexual services, procuring a person under 18 to provide sexual services for consideration, and sexual exploitation.

The offences were committed over a period of four to six weeks in late 2015.

Webber stood trial on a total of seven charges. The jury found her not guilty of obstructing police, and Justice Christa Brothers stayed a charge of sexual assault.

Webber had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of assault, for slapping the girl in the face shortly before she went to police in May 2016.

The sentencing hearing is set for two days. Brothers has indicated she will be reserving her decision.

The Crown agrees with the defence that Webber should not be sentenced on the procuring charge because it arises from substantially the same facts as the human trafficking charge.

The defence is challenging the constitutionality of a five-year mandatory minimum sentence for trafficking someone under the age of 18, saying it would amount to cruel and unusual punishment for Webber.

“The Crown obviously disagrees,” prosecutor Cory Roberts told reporters. “We think it’s appropriate for Ms. Webber in her circumstances, according to what she did.

“Essentially, she trafficked this victim into the sex trade in concert with a gentleman who has since pled guilty before trial. It resulted in (the victim) having sex with men for money here in Halifax, in Moncton and in Toronto as well.”

If the mandatory minimum sentence is upheld by the judge, the prosecution will argue for a prison term of between six and 6.5 years, Roberts said.

If the mandatory minimum is struck down, Roberts said he and colleague Erica Koresawa will recommend a sentence of five to 5.5 years.

Defence lawyer Don Murray is recommending three years in prison.

There’s a publication ban on the identity of the victim. Roberts said she is doing well and praised her for the bravery she showed in going to police and during her four days on the stand at trial.

“Human trafficking is something that we need to tackle here in Nova Scotia,” Roberts said. “Girls in this province are being trafficked into sex work here and in other provinces as well. It’s an alarming situation. No matter who you’re talking about, who the accused is, it’s something that we need to stop.

“We’re seeing more and more charges. Certainly, it’s a problem that’s always existed. I wouldn’t claim that it’s growing. It’s always been here.”

Webber and Kyle Leslie Pellow were arrested in May 2016 at a residence on Main Avenue in Halifax after police learned two people were directing and influencing a 16-year-old girl for prostitution.

Pellow, 29, pleaded guilty in Halifax provincial court last spring to three charges – trafficking a person under 18, advertising sexual services and breaching a court order. He received a six-year prison sentence, but the judge deducted just over three years as remand credit.

Pellow was also ordered to provide a DNA sample for a national databank and was given a lifetime weapons prohibition. He will have to register as a sex offender for 20 years after he serves his prison sentence.

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