THUNDER BAY – NEWS – Thunder Bay Police report that Mark Phillip LEHTONEN has been arrested again after reports that he failed to abide by conditions of his release by breaching a prohibition order in relation to children. Police made the arrest on July 21, 2020.
Thunder Bay Police Service officers with the Cyber Crimes Unit executed a search warrant at a residential address in the 400 block of Rupert Street on June 16, 2020. The search was the result of an ongoing investigation into the possession of child pornography and led to the arrest of Mark Phillip LEHTONEN, 37, of Thunder Bay.
He was subsequently charged with Possession of Child Pornography and Breach of Prohibition Order in Relation to Children.
Early in July police learned LEHTONEN was possibly in breach of his release conditions.
On Tuesday, July 21, 2020, police executed a search warrant at a residential address in the 100 block of Floral Beach Road in Shuniah. Police seized a device during the search, and after reviewing its contents laid a new charge of Accessing Child Pornography.
LEHTONEN’s additional charges include:
• Accessing Child Pornography
• Breach Prohibition Order in Relation to Children
• Failure to Comply with Judicial Release
He appeared in bail court on Wednesday, July 22, 2020, and was remanded into custody with a future appearance date of Thursday, July 23, 2020.
Story Background:
June 17, 2020
P20021455
Child pornography, breach of prohibition charges laid
Police arrested and charged a local man Tuesday with possession of child pornography and breaching a prohibition order in relation to children.
Members of the Thunder Bay Police Service’s Cyber Crimes Unit began an investigation in January 2020 after receiving information about suspicious online posts by a local Internet user.
As a result of their ongoing investigation, officers executed a search warrant at a home in the 400 block of Rupert Street on June 16.
During this search, police found evidence the accused was in violation of a court order, which prohibited the suspect from accessing the World Wide Web outside of employment and education purposes. Police also located and seized devices connected to their investigation.
Further investigation revealed the suspect was in possession of files consistent with child pornography.
Mark Phillip LEHTONEN, 37, of Thunder Bay is charged with Possession of Child Pornography and Breach of Prohibition Order in Relation to Children.
He appeared in bail court on Wednesday, June 17, and was remanded into custody with a future appearance date of Thursday, June 18.
None of the charges have been proven in court.