Ontario daycare employee charged with child porn offences in major police investigation

An employee at a Milton, Ont. daycare centre has been charged with child pornography offences in a major multi-jurisdictional police investigation.

A spokeswoman for the Milton Community Resource Centre said in an emailed statement to Global News they had been informed by Peel Regional Police and the Children’s Aid Society that an employee of the not-for-profit organization on Bronte Street was arrested and charged with child pornography offences.

In response to calls for comment, Peel Regional police told Global News Steven Campbell, 37, of Brampton, has been charged with accessing child pornography and possessing child pornography in an investigation that involved numerous police services. He was held for a bail hearing on Tuesday.

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“News of the investigation is deeply troubling to us and members of our greater community,” said Rebecca Barrows-Vrankulj, executive director of the Milton Community Resource Centre.

“The centre assures everyone, especially parents, that we are cooperating with police to assist them in their investigation.”

Barrows-Vrankulj said the staff member had been “removed from the premises” and would not be returning to the centre during the investigation

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“The security of children we care for is our number one priority,” said Barrows-Vrankulj, adding that the centre takes the situation “very seriously.”

“All staff undergo police background checks and vulnerable sector screening.”

A Facebook profile for a Steven Campbell stated that he has been an Early Childhood Educator at the Milton Community Resource Centre since September 2013.

The investigation is ongoing and Peel police and Ontario Provincial Police confirmed there would be a press conference with more information to be released on Thursday.