18-year-old Ottawa ring leader gets maximum sentence
The leader of a teen prostitution ring in Ottawa, Kailey Oliver-Machado, has been found guilty of 27 charges, including child pornography, child luring, prostitution, human trafficking, and unlawful confinement. Arrested in 2012 at the age of 15, Oliver-Machado was accused of luring young girls through social media to perform sexual acts for men.
The youngest victim of the teen pimp ring, who was 13 at the time of the occurrence, was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder following the abuse.
“I have nightmares about the incident,” said the victim, now 16. “I am scared to live and scared to do anything.”
The great harm that has come to the victims, almost all between the ages of 13 and 17, led the court to try Oliver-Machado as an adult, rather than a child.
Oliver-Machado received the maximum adult sentence of six-and-a-half years for crimes committed. If tried as a child, Oliver-Machado would have been protected by the Youth Criminal Justice Act, capping her sentence at a maximum of three years.
Families of the victims reacted positively to this outcome, with the adult sentence providing some closure for all affected by the event.
During her sentencing, Oliver-Machado apologized to those she harmed.
“I realize the pain I inflicted on my victims and their families was extremely wrong and I will forever live with the guilt and regret of my vile actions,” said Oliver-Machado. “No words could ever convey how solemnly sorry I am. I am far from perfect, but I’m definitely not the same girl I was at 15.”
The mental state of Oliver-Machado was of great concern during the proceedings of the trial. Dr. Gregory Motayne, a doctor from the Royal Hospital brought in to complete a psychological assessment of the teen, expressed belief that Oliver-Machado has a similar profile to that of a narcissist and an anti-social sociopath.
While Oliver-Machado does not currently attend school, the doctor noted she was highly intelligent, and scored quite highly on tests focused around self-deception.
A history of behavioural concerns, including drinking at the age of 12 and smoking marijuana at the age of 14, have led to suggestions that Oliver-Machado’s mother could have influenced her role in the teen prostitution ring, as she had worked previously in prostitution and had a history of drug abuse in the home.
Two other teens involved in leading the incident are involved in ongoing trials, one of whom has received the maximum youth sentence. The other is to be sentenced upon the completion of a psychological assessment.
While this case may be over concerning the fate of the leading young woman, thoughts continue to stay with the victims.
“I think it’s important to recognize it was the girls that came forward with their families who have suffered through this as well,” said Detective Carloyn Botting, one of the two Ottawa police officers working the case. “This is a long road ahead for them.”