A 44-year-old Halifax man is facing a slew of human trafficking, sexual assault and child pornography charges involving three underage girls.

Halifax Regional Police launched an investigation Sunday regarding a man who allegedly directed and influenced a 14-year-old girl, a 16-year-old, and a 17-year-old girl for the purpose of prostitution.

Police executed a search warrant on Quartz Drive Thursday morning. A man was arrested at the scene without incident.

Duncan Robertson Wright is facing a total of 20 charges:

  • Human trafficking of a person under the age of eighteen x 2 
  • Sexual assault x 3
  • Sexual interference
  • Invitation to sexual touching
  • Receiving material benefit from sexual services x 2
  • Material benefit from trafficking a person under the age of eighteen x 2
  • Householder permitting sexual activity x 2
  • Making child pornography x 2
  • Distributing child pornography
  • Possession of child pornography x 2
  • Keeping a common bawdy house x 2

Police say it’s not common for so many charges to be laid in one case, and tell CTV News the investigation unfolded quickly.

Wright appeared in Halifax provincial court Thursday afternoon to face the charges. He’s due back in court next Tuesday for a bail hearing.