North Bay police say a 45-year-old local man that was previously released, after child luring charges were laid in February, is back in custody facing additional charges.
The investigation began in August 2018 as a collaborative effort between North Bay and Greater Sudbury police into social media communication between the accused and a teen. It resulted in a search warrant being carried out on February 19 at a North Bay home, where several devices, including a computer, were seized. The 45-year-old was arrested and later released as the investigation continued.
It is alleged that communications between the two began in 2015 when the teen was 13-year-old. Police say during this time, the young person shared numerous images and videos that would be considered child pornography under the Canadian Criminal Code.
Due to the ongoing investigation, North Bay police took the man back into custody Friday, April 26 after discovering an additional female victim.
In addition to the initial child luring charge, he is now also charged with:
- Making child pornography
- Invitation to sexual touching
- Making sexually explicit material available to a child
Police say in 2013 the accused, posing as a teenage boy, engaged in an online relationship with the second victim and several sexually explicit images and videos considered child pornography were shared.
North Bay Police Community Safety Coordinator John Schultz says the man never used an associated picture and used varied identities.
The 45-year-old is being held for a bail hearing and the investigation is ongoing.
Detective Constable Buchanan is the lead investigator from the North Bay Police Service. He says these types of investigations can be very time consuming and advises parents to educate themselves on internet safety.
“In this age of technology, you have to talk to your children to safeguard them when they use the internet.” said Buchanan.
Through a grant from the Ministry of the Solicitor General, the North Bay Police Service is part of the Ontario Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet.
