Human trafficking trial of Essa Canton couple accused of human trafficking postponed

The Essa canton couple accused in a human trafficking investigation will have to wait a little longer before appearing in court.

Lauriston Maloney and his wife Amber face serious charges including human trafficking, assault, false imprisonment, administering a noxious substance and fraud following their arrest in July 2023.

Defence lawyer Mark Ruffolo appeared in a Barrie courtroom Friday representing the Maloneys, three weeks before their 10-day trial was scheduled to begin, after the Crown requested an adjournment.

The judge granted the Crown's request while the defence told the court he had been informed of new disclosures in the case against the Maloneys.

The case has been adjourned until October 9, when the trial is scheduled to begin. CTV News will not release the name of the complainant in this case.

The couple had previously been released on bail and placed in the care of their parents, who had acted as guarantors.

The arrest

The Maloneys were taken into custody a day after Ontario Provincial Police issued a rare public safety advisory warning that Lauriston Maloney, a registered sex offender, was in the community and may have had access to children at a camp for autistic children.

Amber Maloney opened the camp on the couple's farm in Essa Township in 2022. Immediately after the arrests, the Department of Education ordered the camp to stop providing child care at the location.

Police confirmed that the children attending the camp were not victims during the investigation.

In a one-on-one interview with CTV News before his arrest in July 2023, Lauriston Maloney maintained his innocence, calling the OPP's advice “ridiculous” and adding that he was not a predator.

Police confirmed that Lauriston Maloney was convicted of sex crimes in 2004 and again in 2013. Maloney said his conviction for trafficking a minor 20 years ago was part of an escort business, adding that the girl lied about her age.

The allegations against Lauriston and Amber Maloney have not been tested in court.