PTC Pending in Atoa Case

By Lethbridge Herald on March 13, 2026.

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman

Lethbridge Herald

Lethbridge man Skye Atoa, accused with multiple sex related offences remains in custody waiting for a pre-trial conference for some of his charges. 

Atoa appeared in Lethbridge Court Thursday via CCTV along with his lawyer Richard Muenz regarding the charges that are still pending a trial date. 

As Atoa is charged with offences from various incidents, he has received multiple trial dates, but still needs one more trial date to be scheduled related to the incident involving minors.  

On Dec. 19, 2025, police responded to a report that a 14-year-old girl was being held in an apartment along the 500 block of 8 Street South. Upon arrival, a male answered the door, and the girl was located inside in medical distress. The victim was transported to hospital.

Lethbridge Police said Atoa was later arrested without incident and following the execution of a search warrant, two additional girls aged 15 and 16, were found inside the residence after being unlawfully confined for several hours. 

Atoa is charged with human trafficking of a person under 18, sexual assault of a child under 16, sexual interference, obtaining sexual services of a child for consideration, indecent exposure to a child under 16, sexual counsel of a child and three counts of unlawful confinement. 

On Tuesday, Atoa’s lawyer Richard Muenz told the court that they are still waiting for some disclosure and therefore have not been able to set up a pre-trial conference (PTC) for those charges. 

The Crown said a large portion of the disclosure had been sent, but they had recently obtained some additional disclosure that still needs to be reviewed before sending it to Muenz, and they believe this can be done within the next couple of weeks. 

The Crown also advised Muenz that the trial coordinator would need a plea to be entered before being able to set up a PTC, and Muenz entered a not guilty plea, which Atoa confirmed. 

Atoa has been in custody since Jan. 13, after Lethbridge Police re-arrested him for breaching the conditions of a release order approximately half an hour after his release from custody.

Atoa will remain in custody and his matters will return to court on March 27, to schedule a pre-trial conference for the charges stated above.