Alex Kurial/Local Journalism Initiative

A Toronto area man will spend six years behind bars after being found guilty of sex trafficking in Lambton. Javoll Devon Blackwood’s punishment was handed down by Justice Joseph Donohue in Sarnia’s Superior Court this fall – just across the street from the motel Blackwood, 33, was busted in more than two years ago.
Blackwood was found guilty of several offences, including three charges of trafficking, gaining benefit from exploitation of a minor, and making child pornography. A 17 year-old girl was one of his victims.
It was the July Ribfest weekend in 2018 when Blackwood travelled from Toronto to Sarnia. With him were a woman and the 17 year-old. Blackwood and the girl had already made the trip earlier in the year to meet clients.
Blackwood’s return visit unravelled when the woman found herself locked out of the Point Edward motel where the trio were staying. She called police who arrived and busted into the unit.
OPP officers found Blackwood sleeping with the girl.
Cocaine and fentanyl was also discovered, along with cell phones, boxes of condoms and suitcases of lingerie.
The investigation relied heavily on technology to prove Blackwood was exploiting the woman and girl. He claimed he was in Sarnia to start a new life, and that the pair were free to “come and go” as they wished.
But analysis of the cell phones and internet searches by OPP officers found text messages, photos and social media posts that all linked back to Blackwood. He posted images of the pair on escort website called LeoList, listing the services they offered and prices.
At least 7,000 text messages were found between Blackwood and clients. He claimed that the woman and girl posted the ads and images themselves to make money. Blackwood says he went along with the plan “out of the goodness of his heart.”
Blackwood maintained control over the older woman by exploiting her crack addiction. Blackwood met the younger girl at a party in the GTA when she was 17. He offered her a place to live, but soon began trafficking her. Blackwood said he thought the girl was 18, but court heard that he acquired a fake ID for her since he knew she was underage.
Blackwood was originally scheduled for sentencing in April but the outbreak of COVID-19 caused a six-month delay.
He’s spent 820 days in jail since the July 2018 arrest, translating to 41 months of time served. It will be two years and nine months before Blackwood is released.
Blackwood will be on the Sex Offender Registry for life, can never possess a weapon, and must submit a DNA sample.
-with files from Pam Wright