Edmonton – An Edmonton man is facing five child exploitation charges after a one year investigation by the Northern Alberta Internet Child Exploitation Unit (ICE).
Darrell Steppke has been charged with one count of accessing child pornography, one count of possessing child pornography, one count of distributing child pornography, one count of luring a child, and one count of counseling to commit an offence of sexual interference.
The charges are in relation to one alleged female victim who is 15-years-old. Investigators say she is not from the Edmonton area.
The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) says an investigation began after complaints were made about a man who was believed to be committing child pornography and luring offences on social media and chat sites.
ICE investigators – with the help of the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) and St. Albert RCMP – arrested the 51-year-old Steppke at his home in northwest Edmonton on October 3rd. Several electronic devices were seized.
A search warrant was conducted a week later at a second home in Edmonton. However, investigators believe Steppke acted alone.
Steppke is in custody as he awaits his next court appearance on Wednesday, October 16.
Anyone with more information about this case is asked to contact cybertip.ca, Crime Stoppers, or police.
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