International child porn investigation leads to the rescue of young victim

May 30, 2012

Edmonton… An Edmonton man is charged with sexual assault and several child pornography offences allegedly committed against his now five-year-old niece. The offences allegedly occurred when the child was an infant.

ALERT’s Northern Alberta Internet Child Exploitation unit (ICE), an integrated team made up of Edmonton Police Service and RCMP members, started an investigation on May 23 after receiving information about pornographic material involving a child that appeared to have originated from Canada. This information was shared by United States Homeland Security.

Police were able to confirm the victim was from Edmonton due to the efforts of the RCMP’s National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre’s (NCECC) Victim Identification Unit.  In working collaboratively, the RCMP, the Department of Homeland Security and the Ontario Victim Identification Team, a unit of the Ontario Provincial Strategy, gathered valuable evidence to assist in furthering the investigation.

Based on the information provided by NCECC, ICE North’s extensive investigative work led to the successful identification of the victim.

On May 26, ICE North arrested an Edmonton man for a number of offences related to this investigation.  A subsequent search warrant was executed at a north Edmonton home, where computer equipment and electronic devices were seized. ALERT’s Southern Alberta ICE Unit provided assistance, as well as the ZEBRA Child Protection Centre.

Due to a publication ban protecting the victim’s identity, the accused cannot be named. A 36-year-old Edmonton man is charged with sexual assault, sexual interference, possession of child pornography and making child pornography.

“With help from our partners both in Canada and outside our borders, we will continue to protect the most vulnerable members of our society,” said ICE North’s Sgt. Mike Lokken. “While we carry on with this investigation, we are thankful to have identified the victim in order to ensure her safety is no longer compromised.”

The investigation is ongoing, with the continued forensic examination of the computer equipment seized by police. The accused remains in custody until his next court appearance on June 12.

ICE investigates the sexual exploitation of children through the Internet and works to reduce harm through public education and prevention programs.

ICE is an ALERT team established and funded by the Government of Alberta to bring together the province’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources to tackle serious and organized crime. Over 400 municipal police, RCMP and sheriffs work for ALERT.

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Media inquiries may be directed to:
Jill Baird
Communications
Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT)
780-509-3028