FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 5, 2018 11:02am
(Ottawa) — Last month, the Ottawa Police Service Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit participated in province-wide Child pornography investigations as a member of the Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet.
The Provincial Strategy comprises the OPP Child Sexual Exploitation Section (CSES), 26 municipal police services and the Ministries of the Attorney General (MAG) and Community Safety and Correctional Services (MCSCS).
Coordinated investigations took place during November 2018 and the results were formally announced this morning at a multi-jurisdictional media conference in Vaughan, Ontario.
“During the investigations, a total of 6 production orders and 9 Criminal Code search warrants were prepared and have been executed by the Ottawa Police ICE Unit - with the assistance of our Surveillance, Tactical, Patrol, Computer Forensics Unit (CFU) and Forensic Identification Teams - resulting in 6 people charged and 23 Criminal charges laid,” said Superintendent Chris Renwick, with the Criminal Investigations Directorate of Ottawa Police Service and spokesperson for ICE Unit.
Homeland Security Investigations Ottawa (HSI) is assisting the ICE Unit in reference to a 34 year old suspect residing in the United States, wanted for luring offences and encouraging suicide against a child victim in the Ottawa area.
“To date, two child victims have been identified,” added Supt. Renwick. “Investigators are still in the process of viewing all collections of images and videos seized. In total, 38 devices were seized. It is expected that additional charges will be laid pending the full forensics of digital evidence seized.”
To date, the following six Ottawa men have been charged by Ottawa Police:
Jeffrey PARENT, 34 years old of Ottawa:
- 1 x Distribution of child pornography
- 3 x Possession of child pornography
- 2 x Access child pornography
- 1 x Breach order from sexual offence condition
George STEINBURG, 75 years old of Ottawa:
- 1 x Distribution of child pornography
- 1 x Possession of child pornography
- 1 x Access child pornography
Kenneth JODOIN, 57 years old of Ottawa:
- 1 x Distribution of child pornography
- 2 x Possession of child pornography
Jason SAWYER, 21 years old, of Ottawa:
- 2 x Make available child pornography
- 3 x Possession of child pornography
- 1 x Make child pornography
Pierre PAQUETTE, 59 years old, of Ottawa:
- 2 x Possession of child pornography
James HODGES, 42 years old, of Ottawa:
- 1 x Possession of child pornography
- 1 x Breach Probation
The first 5 men have already appeared in court; and there is a warrant for the arrest of HODGES.
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