At the OPP, we want every day to be ‘Safer Internet Day.’

ORILLIA, ON – In collaboration with its municipal law enforcement partners, the Ontario Provincial Police’s (OPP) Child Sexual Exploitation Unit recently executed 10 search warrants across the province relating to cases of child sexual exploitation. These warrants led to the arrest of eight individuals, against whom a total of 36 charges were laid. Some of the accused have past convictions for child pornography and sexual offences against children.

“Our most fundamental responsibility as a society is to protect our children from those who would do them harm. The OPP will continue to aggressively identify and pursue individuals who use technology to exploit children. These investigations highlight the many OPP, municipal and First Nations officers who are working diligently to keep our children safe,” states Vince Hawkes, OPP Commissioner

The OPP Child Sexual Exploitation Unit coordinates the Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet. This initiative provides a collaborative approach to addressing child sexual exploitation in Ontario. It involves the Ministry of the Attorney General, the Ontario Victims Services Secretariat, the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services and 26 police agencies across the province.

“On February 6, the OPP and many enforcement and victim service agencies observed Safer Internet Day, a day to promote the safe and responsible use of online technologies. At the OPP, we want every day to be ‘Safer Internet Day.’ Parents are reminded to take a proactive approach to help protect their children from online exploitation by speaking with them about internet safety,” says Insp. Tina Chalk, Counter Exploitation and Missing Persons Unit

Police in Ontario are mandated by the Police Services Act to prevent crime and other offences. In order to prevent the victimization of children, the Child Sexual Exploitation Unit recommends visiting the Canadian Centre for Child Protection’s website, protectchildren.ca. This website offers useful and age-appropriate resources for children and parents regarding child safety.

Any person with information regarding possible instances of child sexual exploitation should immediately contact any OPP Detachment or their nearest police authority.  In Thunder Bay you can call Thunder Bay Police at (807) 684-1200.

For Areas of Nishinawbe Aki Police you can call (807)623-2161.

For Treaty 3 Police, Kenora main detachment you can call (807) 548-5474

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000. You can also report child safety concerns via Canada’s tipline, cybertip.ca.

Summary of Search Warrants Executed and Charges Laid

There are no connections between the following cases. They are all independent investigations.

On February 5, 2018, members of OPP Child Sexual Exploitation Unit, OPP Digital Forensics Unit and the Stratford Police Service executed a search warrant at a Stratford residence following an online, under-cover investigation. As a result, computers were seized which contained images of child sexual abuse. On February 5, 2018, police arrested 35-year-old Ernest Jordan HESSE of Stratford, Ontario. He is charged with:

• one count of Possession of Child Pornography
• one count of Accessing Child Pornography
• one count of Make Available Child Pornography

On February 6, 2018, members of OPP Child Sexual Exploitation Unit, OPP Digital Forensics Unit and Huron County OPP Detachment executed a search warrant at a residence in Fordwich, Ontario after receiving a report from a social media outlet that an unknown person had uploaded an image of child sexual abuse to the internet. As a result, computers were seized which contained images of child sexual abuse. On February 6, 2018, police arrested 49-year-old David Harold BANKS of Fordwich, Ontario. He is charged with:

• two counts of Possession of Child Pornography
• one count of Accessing Child Pornography
• one count of Make Available Child Pornography

During the course of the search warrant execution, a quantity of stolen property and illegal drugs were located. As a result, on February 6, 2018, police arrested 23-year-old Justin HORRIGAN of Fordwich, Ontario. He is charged with:

• two counts of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5,000
• one count of Possession of Marihuana
• one count of Possession of Cannabis Resin
• one count of Fail to Comply with Recognizance

On February 7, 2018, members of OPP Child Sexual Exploitation Unit, OPP Digital Forensics Unit and Walkerton OPP Detachment executed a search warrant at a Formosa residence following an online, under-cover investigation. As a result, computers were seized which contained images of child sexual abuse. On February 7, 2018, police arrested 47-year-old Daniel Bruce DAVIDSON of Formosa, Ontario. He is charged with:

• one count of Possession of Child Pornography
• one count of Accessing Child Pornography
• one count of Make Available Child Pornography

On February 7, 2018, members of OPP Child Sexual Exploitation Unit, OPP Digital Forensics Unit and Walkerton OPP Detachment executed a search warrant at a Walkerton residence following an online, under-cover investigation. As a result, computers were seized which contained images of child sexual abuse. On February 13, 2018, police arrested 31-year-old Justin A. CAMPBELL of Walkerton, Ontario. He is charged with:

• three counts of Possession of Child Pornography
• two counts of Make Available Child Pornography

In January 2018, in the course of an online, under-cover investigation, the Sûreté du Québec identified an offender seeking to have sexual relations with two girls, ages six and eight. Further investigation was conducted by the OPP on February 7, 2018, the Child Sexual Exploitation Unit accompanied by Orangeville Police Service executed a search warrant at an Orangeville residence. In addition to evidence of this offence, police located computers containing images of child sexual abuse. On February 7, 2018, police arrested 40-year-old Christopher M. ROBINSON of Orangeville, Ontario. He is charged with:

• two counts of Agreement to Commit a Sexual Offence Against a Person Under 16 Years
• two counts of Invitation to Sexual Touching a Person Under 16 Years
• one count of Possession of Child Pornography
• one count of Accessing Child Pornography
• one count of Make Available Child Pornography

In January 2018, OPP Child Sexual Exploitation Unit received an investigation from the Department of Homeland Security in Buffalo, New York, after an Agent identified a group of individuals exchanging videos and images over the internet of children being sexually abused. Further investigation by the Child Sexual Exploitation Unit resulted in OPP investigators, accompanied by Owen Sound Police Service, executing a search warrant on February 15, 2018 at an Owen Sound residence. During the execution of the search warrant, computer equipment containing images of child sexual abuse were located. On February 15, 2018 police arrested 29-year-old Jacob Robert BAKER of Owen Sound, Ontario. He is charged with:

• two counts of Possession of Child Pornography
• one count of Distribution of Child Pornography

On February 22, 2018, members of the Child Sexual Exploitation Unit, St. Thomas Police, OPP Digital Forensics and Oxford County OPP Detachment executed a search warrant at a residence in Kintore, Ontario after receiving information that an unknown person using the internet was in possession of images of child sexual abuse. Two computer devices were seized which contained images of child sexual abuse. On the February 22, 2018, police arrested 36-year-old Lee David James HUGHES of Kintore, Ontario. He is charged with:

• two counts of Possession of Child Pornography
• one count of Accessing of Child Pornography
• one count of Breaching Probation
• one count of Breaching court order
• one count of Possession of Cannabis Marihuana