A Langley woman facing 14 criminal charges linked to human trafficking made an initial court appearance on Wednesday, Jan. 3, and remains in custody.
Jennifer Lynn Stephens appeared before a Surrey Provincial Court judge, and will be back for another minor appearance on Jan. 17.
She has been held behind bars since her arrest on Dec. 7 last year.
The investigation that led to further charges began on March 7, 2023, when an injured woman walked into a Walnut Grove gas station and asked for someone to call the police.
That led to an assault charge against Stephens. When she failed to turn up in court in July, a Canada-wide warrant was issued for her arrest. She wasn’t located until Dec. 7, when she was arrested in the Lower Mainland.
While she was on the run from police, the investigation continued, and after her arrest she was charged with trafficking in persons, trafficking a person under 18 years old, two counts of procuring a person under 18 years old, forcible confinement, assault causing bodily harm, assault with a weapon, and other charges.
She is facing separate charges of robbery, assault with a weapon, and unlawful confinement for incidents in Surrey.
READ MORE: Human trafficking charges laid against Langley woman