FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, February 23, 2017 4:25 pm
(Ottawa) – In late November 2016, a member of the National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre (NCECC) conducted a proactive covert online child exploitation investigation in a publicly available chat room. This chat room was a well-known area for child exploitation offenders to encounter vulnerable children for a sexual purpose.
In late January 2017 the Ottawa Police Ice Unit (ICE) received a report from Google indicating a person using the same email address had uploaded images of child pornography.
A subsequent production order obtained by ICE resolved to an address on Banner Road, in the West end of Ottawa.
On today's date, a search warrant was executed at the residence by members of NCECC and ICE. An onsite preview of digital devices identified a collection of toddler to pubescent images of children being sexually abused.
Alain COURCHESNE, 59 years old of Ottawa, has been charged with:
* 3 x Possession Child Pornography s. 163.1(4) of the Criminal Code
* 1 x Luring a Child s. 172.1(1)(b) of the Criminal Code
* 2 x Distribution of Child Pornography s. 163.1(3) of the Criminal Code
* 1 x Making Sexually Explicit Material Available to a Child s. 171.1(1)(b) of the Criminal Code
COURCHESNE will appear at show cause court on Friday, February 24, 2017
It is believed that the suspect has been online for a length of time attempting to lure children.
COURCHESNE used the handle of "bi daddy" and email address gastoncourchesne@gmail.com.
Anyone wishing to come forward with a complaint is asked to call Sgt. Maureen Bryden of the Ottawa Police Service Internet Child Exploitation Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 5466.
Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers at 613-233-8477 (TIPS), toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or downloading the Ottawa Police app.
The Ottawa Police Service is a member of the Provincial Strategy to protect children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet. This Project has been made possible by a grant from the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services.
- 30 -
CONTACT: Media Relations Section
Tel: 613-236-1222, ext. 5366
@OttawaPolice
facebook.com/OttawaPoliceService
instagram.com/ottawapolice