Essa Twp. couple accused of human trafficking face new charges

An Essa Township couple in the midst of a human trafficking trial have been arrested and charged again, this time with allegedly breaching their bail terms.

Amber and Lauriston Maloney face accusations of exploiting a former lover for financial gain, and were ordered not to speak to one another unless in the presence of their lawyers.

Following the new charges, Lauriston Maloney surrendered himself to police on Monday and is scheduled to appear in bail court Tuesday. His wife was released Monday afternoon on $15,000 bail to sureties under strict conditions, including house arrest.

Along with being ordered not to communicate with her husband, Amber Maloney is also barred from speaking with or being within 100 metres of at least seven women, including the complainant in the human trafficking case.

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Amber Maloney is also ordered not to be in a position of power or trust in any employment or volunteer work and cannot communicate with children besides the couple’s two kids.

During the trial, the complainant testified the couple took advantage of her after she entered into a relationship with them and fell in love with Amber.

She testified Lauriston told her to quit her jobs to work for him and his wife.

The witness told the court she was expected to always be available and was paid very little in return. She said she ultimately stayed with the Maloneys who covered her room and board and brought her along on family vacations.

The woman said tensions escalated when the Maloneys added more women to their relationship.

She came forward to police following an argument with Lauriston, alleging he physically assaulted her.

On the stand, the complainant said she helped Amber Maloney run her unlicensed business called 'Beating the Odds' for children on the autism spectrum.

During the investigation, provincial police issued a rare public safety advisory warning of Lauriston’s presence in the community and at his wife’s business, which was located on the couple’s two-acre Essa Township property.

Police confirmed Lauriston Maloney is a registered sex offender, having been found guilty about 20 years ago of pimping out underage girls in Mississauga. He told CTV News the girls lied to him about their age.

The Maloneys were arrested last summer and bailed out by their respective parents who served as sureties.

The allegations against the accused have not been tested in court. The human trafficking trial resumes in early January.