Dustin Ward Paxton, 30, was taken to a jail in Calgary Thursday to face assault and forcible confinement charges. (CBC)

The man accused of a gruesome, prolonged assault of Dustin LaFortune was taken to Calgary Thursday to face charges.

Alberta sheriffs transported Dustin Ward Paxton, 30, to the Calgary Remand Centre on Thursday from Edmonton, where he was arrested earlier this week.

Paxton is charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of forcible confinement in connection with the attacks which left his former roommate burned, with brain injuries and emaciated. LaFortune's family believes his injuries were the result of torture.

Police believe the attacks on LaFortune, 26, happened in Calgary between Dec. 1, 2008, and March 2, 2010, and again in Regina between March 15 and April 16.

On that day someone dumped LaFortune — by then less than half his original weight — at Regina General Hospital.

After issuing Canada-wide warrants for Paxton's arrest on Monday, investigators tracked him to a residence he had rented in southeast Edmonton under a false name.

Police took him into custody without incident on Tuesday.

Police in Calgary — who are now handling the investigation — confirmed Wednesday that they are also conducting "parallel investigations" after other people came forward with assault allegations against Paxton.

Pictures of Dustin LaFortune before and after he suffered a lengthy assault and was finally dropped off at a Regina hospital. (Facebook)In a statement released to CBC News, LaFortune's stepfather Courtney Welch expressed the family's relief about Paxton's arrest and called for other possible victims to come forward.

"We appeal to anyone who has first-hand knowledge of this case or of any similar past actions by Dustin Paxton to inform the Calgary or Regina police, if they have not already done so, to ensure that Paxton's entire history is considered during sentencing" if he is found guilty, Welch said.

Paxton faces a lengthy prison sentence if he is convicted, said Doug King, who teaches justice studies at Calgary's Mount Royal University.

"The forcible confinement charge carries with it a maximum penalty of life imprisonment," he said.

LaFortune, who is originally from Winnipeg, is recovering. He is now able to get around with the help of a walker and his family said he will soon be moved to a rehabilitation centre in Victoria.

Paxton will appear in provincial court in Calgary on Friday.