Cody James Barnes pleaded guilty Aug. 12, 2026, to a count of advertising an offer for sexual services, admitting he posted a profile for a woman on the sex trade message board LeoList, then arranged for her to have sex with clients for money. Photo by Greg Southam /10110094A

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An Edmonton man is awaiting sentence after admitting to posting ads offering up a woman for sex.

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Cody James Barnes, 42, pleaded guilty Wednesday to a single count of advertising an offer for sexual services. Barnes admitted he posted photos of a woman to a sex-trade message board, arranged for clients to have sex with her, then pocketed a portion of the proceeds.

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Barnes is free on bail and appeared nervous when answering questions from Court of King’s Bench Justice Steven Mandziuk. At one point, Mandziuk asked Barnes if he was OK and whether he needed a glass of water.

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Sentencing in the case was put off until after Sept. 4 as Barnes has requested a presentence report.

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Police began investigating Barnes in May 2019. The victim, identified in court as NN, told police she met Barnes earlier that year, at a time when she was in financial trouble. She thought Barnes was her boyfriend, but he soon created a profile for her on LeoList, a message board popular in the sex trade. Barnes arranged for the woman to have sex with clients who contacted him through the site, then took a percentage of the payment.

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When the woman asked Barnes to remove photos showing her full face, he ignored her.

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“NN felt she could not stop as the accused had told her he would tell her family that she was working in the sex trade if she didn’t continue to work for him,” prosecutor Rayne Thompson told court, reading from an agreed statement of facts.

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Thompson did not say why the case has dragged on since 2019, beside saying the file has “some history.” She noted Barnes has waived making applications under the Supreme Court’s Jordan ruling, which says superior court cases should typically be tried within 30 months.

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Barnes initially faced five counts including human trafficking, procuring and extortion. He pleaded guilty to the single charge with the consent of the Crown.

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Barnes has a prior criminal record, court heard.

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