The charges range from sexual assault, possession of child pornography, make available child pornography, distribution of child pornography, making child pornography and accessing child pornography.
Advertisement
It was because of Erkkila’s team and the local technical machinery available in the Sault that there has been a joint effort with other policing forces from the surrounding area, as far as Orillia, to keep our children safe.
Bell added that these investigations, which involve children in “pictures of every imaginable sex act” being available to everyone online, is a top priority for police. Drug and weapon charges were also laid.
Don Bell said Thursday the investigation involved collaboration with the RCMP, Canada Border Services Agency, United States Homeland Security, and 26 municipal police forces across Ontario.
Five people from Simcoe County are among 80 people arrested as part of a massive investigation targeting online child exploitation.
Police say 20 victims were identified during the investigation and referred to community-based resources for assistance. “Every image of child pornography represents a child victim”.
In one incident flagged by Toronto police, a 16-year-old girl was allegedly befriended by two men who lured her with the promise of lucrative work, then shuttled her to hotels around the city to perform sexual services.
As part of the investigation, police services across Ontario executed 174 search warrants in coordinated raids in recent weeks.
Both have been charged with possession of child pornography and accessing child pornography. Humbert met police there and told investigators a friend, who he didn’t have contact information about and could not provide details about, had used his computer to send child pornography through his Gmail.
Advertisement
He has been charged with one count of accessing child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
