Trial date set for Langley woman accused of human trafficking

A Langley woman who was arrested on several charges, including human trafficking, is expected to go to trial early next year.

Jennifer Lynn Stephens faces 16 criminal charges in a potentially lengthy judge-alone trial, currently scheduled for February 3 to March 17, 2025.

Before that, she will appear in court on June 13 for a pretrial hearing.

Last December, Stephens was charged with 14 counts, including human trafficking, trafficking of a person under 18, assault causing bodily harm and assault with a weapon, among others.

The investigation leading to the charges began on March 7, 2023, with a 911 call from a gas station near a motel in the 20400 block of 88 Avenue in the Walnut neighborhood Grove in Langley.

The attendant had called for help after an injured and distressed woman entered and asked someone to call the police.

Stephens was arrested and charged with assault following the police investigation into the incident.

In July, Stephens was supposed to appear in court, but he failed to show up. An arrest warrant was issued and the investigation continued while police searched for her. The investigation ultimately included the Surrey RCMP, the Vancouver Police Department's Human Trafficking Unit, the RCMP's E Division Behavioral Sciences Unit, a digital forensics unit and the Joint Special Forces Investigation Team interview team.

When she was arrested on outstanding warrants in the Lower Mainland by Langley serious crimes investigators in December, most of the charges were laid against her.