From British Columbia to Saint-Laurent Boulevard, Amélie* had to pass up to 10 “customers” a day. His pimp, Stéphanie Pommier, was doing business in gold. But the accused caused her own loss by sending naked photos of the victim to her mother, prompting Amélie to file a complaint.
Stéphanie Pommier pleaded guilty Monday to numerous charges at the Montreal courthouse: pimping, material benefit from the offer of sexual services, advertising of sexual services, extortion and dissemination of intimate images. The 30-year-old woman from Pointe-Fortune, Montérégie, had two victims in this case between 2017 and 2018.
Béatrice* contacted Stéphanie Pommier on social networks in 2017 to ask her for help: she wanted to learn how to prostitute herself independently. Stéphanie Pommier takes care of placing the advertisements and makes the appointments. The pimp keeps 20 to 30% of Beatrice’s earnings, who works in Toronto and British Columbia.
In Toronto, Béatrice suggests that Amélie work for Stéphanie Pommier. Amélie is then under the influence of a pimp. Her conditions are difficult: she is locked up and does not even have boots. Stephanie Pommier tells her that she will be treated well and that she will make a lot of money.
Initially, Amélie must keep half of the winnings, but very quickly, Stéphanie Pommier keeps all the victim’s winnings, among other things to pay for an operation (which she will do). When Amélie returns from Toronto, the pimp places her in an apartment on Saint-Laurent Boulevard and directs her up to 10 “clients” a day.
Stéphanie Pommier takes care of everything: placing ads, communicating with “customers” and making appointments. They travel to British Columbia, then return to Montreal, where Amélie works for another three weeks. She earns between $250 and $1,000 a day, but barely saves $20 to $25 to eat.
She threatens to “massacre” the victims
In January 2018, Amélie and Béatrice go to a hotel frequented by Stéphanie Pommier, probably without talking to her about it. The pimp is furious that the two victims are soliciting one of her clients. She asks them for money and threatens to send them “guys to kill them”.
Stéphanie Pommier also threatens Amélie to send her parents photos of her naked if she refuses to submit to his demands. The pimp will take action, leading Amélie to file a complaint with the police. Stéphanie Pommier was charged in October 2019.
Despite the seriousness of the crimes, the lawyers already announced on Monday their intention to suggest a sentence of house arrest at the next hearing.
“It’s a sentence that may seem lenient,” agreed Me Isabelle Teolis, lawyer for the accused. However, a criminological report produced by the defense makes it possible to understand the circumstances of the acting out, according to Ms.e Teolis.
Moreover, the legal process led to “awareness and introspection” on the part of Stéphanie Pommier, argued her lawyer.
The Crown prosecutor, Mr.e Alexandre Gautier, stressed that the accused had strictly respected her strict conditions of release since her indictment in 2019.
Sentencing submissions will take place in September.
*fictitious names