Calgary man charged after alleged sexual exploitation of Lethbridge teen

Police have laid sexual assault and pornography charges against a 61-year-old Calgary man accused of exploiting a Lethbridge teen.

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ALERT) said an investigation was launched in March 2016 when the victim’s parents discovered sexually explicit messages, photos and videos on the teen’s computer.

It’s alleged the accused was engaged in an inappropriate sexual relationship with the victim, who was 14 years old when they had met online.

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“The relationship progressed to physical sexual offences being committed and took place over a period of two years,” ALERT said in a Thursday news release.

Officers arrested Laurence Bouwmeester at his home in Calgary on Aug. 23.

He is charged with several offences, including:
• Sexual assault
• Sexual interference
• Luring to make child pornography
• Luring for sexual assault
• Make child pornography
• Possess child pornography
• Access child pornography
• Making sexually explicit material available to a child

Bouwmeester remains in custody. He is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 2.

According to ALERT, a number of child sexual exploitation photos were uncovered on electronic devices and computers seized from Bouwmeester’s home, leading police to believe there might be additional victims.

“It wouldn’t surprise us to find out there are more victims,” Cst. Jason Richmond said in a Thursday news conference.

Anyone with information about this investigation, or any child exploitation offence, is asked to call their local police or contact cybertip.ca.