LPS seeking witness after offender was re-arrested

By Lethbridge Herald on January 14, 2026.

By Alejandro Pulido- Guzman

Lethbridge Herald

Lethbridge Police re-arrested 50-year-old Skye Atoa for breaching the conditions of a release order approximately half an hour after his release from custody.

According to Lethbridge Police, upon his release, Atoa was required to go to a court-ordered residence, but after being dropped off at the location he made no attempt to comply with the requirements and instead proceeded to a store.

 Through proactive investigation, police observed the subject in the store’s perfume aisle in very close proximity to a young female and he was immediately arrested. 

Lethbridge Police is attempting to identify the female witness who was nearby at the time of Atoa’s arrest. 

She is described as having a darker complexion, with long, dark curly hair parted in the middle. She was wearing a black top, dark blue pants and carrying a small, white shopping bag.

 The witness is asked to contact police at 403-328-4444 and reference file 25059360.

Atoa, who was released Tuesday afternoon after a bail hearing that took place on Monday, 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, is now charged for breaching the conditions of a release order. 

Atoa’s charges stem from two incidents where vulnerable females were sexually assaulted and unlawfully confined. 

On Tuesday morning, Lethbridge Police Staff Sgt. Ashlin Snowdon with the Criminal Investigation Section spoke to media about Atoa and his upcoming release from custody and shared the reason for his arrest. 

Snowdon said that 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.

He said the male 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. 

Snowdon added that Atoa is also charged in connection with a previous sexual assault in October 2025, where a 24-year-old vulnerable female was sexually assaulted at his residence. In that case, Atoa is charged with sexual assault and obtaining for consideration sexual services/communicating for the purpose of sexual services.

And he explained that those charges were recently laid as a result of continued investigation and evidence uncovered during the investigation. 

In addition to his previous charges, Atoa is now facing a further count of failing to comply with release order conditions. Following a Judicial Interim Release hearing, he was remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear in court on the new charge January 15.