Internet child porn investigation leads to arrest of Edmonton father

Following the rescue of a young Edmonton victim on May 25, ALERT has now charged a second man with sexual assault and several child pornography offences allegedly committed against his now five-year-old daughter.

ALERT’s Northern Alberta Internet Child Exploitation unit (ICE), an integrated team made up of Edmonton Police Service and RCMP members, started an investigation on May 23 after receiving information about pornographic material involving a child that appeared to have originated from Canada.

In working with several partners, ICE North confirmed the young victim’s identity within 48 hours. The first accused, the young victim’s uncle, was arrested on May 26 and is charged with sexual assault and several child pornography offences.

On June 7, ICE North arrested a second man, the young victim’s father, for a number of offences related to this investigation.

Due to a publication ban protecting the victim’s identity, the accused cannot be named. A 34-year-old Edmonton man is charged with sexual assault, sexual interference, incest, accessing child pornography, possession of child pornography and making child pornography.

“Following last week’s arrest, I said that our team is always open to the possibility of more suspects,” said ICE North’s Sgt. Mike Lokken. “While charges are now laid against a second man, we continue to work on the forensics aspect of this investigation to gather more information.”

The accused made his first court appearance today.

It’s believed the crimes occurred when the victim was an infant. The child has been assessed by staff at the ZEBRA Child Protection
Centre. The agency won’t talk about the specifics of this case. but can
offer general comment when it comes to a victim who is so young.

“A
child that is two or three months of age is not going to remember the
events or the occurances that led to the charges being laid on cases
like this,” says Barb Spencer.

Still, she describes child abuse as heinous, and adds a victim should not be treated as a victim as they become older.

“It’s
important in regards to the people who are providing the support in her
life to understand that their actions and how well they’re doing with
it, and how they are responsive to just giving her a normal life, that
they’re accountable to making sure that happens.”
ICE investigates the sexual exploitation of children through the Internet and works to reduce harm through public education and prevention programs.

ICE is an ALERT team established and funded by the Government of Alberta to bring together the province’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources to tackle serious and organized crime. Over 400 municipal police, RCMP and sheriffs work for ALERT.

Police officers with ALERT will speak to the media about this latest arrest this afternoon.