B.C. woman faces up to 13 years for sex trafficking

A British Columbia woman who pleaded guilty to a series of violent crimes, including the sex trafficking of a minor, awaits sentencing after a three-day hearing concluded this week in New Westminster. Jennifer Stephens, 31, faces a potential 13-year prison term as recommended by Crown prosecutors, while her defense counsel has proposed a seven-year sentence with credit for time served.

Stephens pleaded guilty in January 2025 to 17 criminal charges, including assault causing bodily harm, unlawful confinement, sexual assault with a weapon, and multiple offences related to trafficking a person under 18. The sentencing hearing before Justice Terence Schultes featured graphic evidence, including videos depicting extreme violence against victims, which prompted the judge to caution courtroom observers about the disturbing content.

Crown attorney Catherine Rose presented an agreed statement of facts detailing Stephens' actions. The evidence described violent, drug-fueled assaults on sex workers, including a 13-year-old girl. One video from March 2023 showed a victim in a Langley hotel having her head forced into a toilet while Stephens stood on her back; the victim was also whipped...