Dwayne Schnell was released on $3,000 no-cash bail Friday. The 37-year-old is facing a number of child pornography charges after an investigation by the Alberta Law Enforcement Teams (ALERT) Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) team.
Friday’s decision was a joint release between defence and the Crown.
Schnell will be residing in Calgary with his parents. He can not leave the province of Alberta. He has to report to a bail supervisor and can not work or volunteer in any position of trust or authority with children under 16.
READ MORE: Lethbridge teacher facing child pornography charges: ALERT
Police said the investigation first began in January 2017 when ICE was given a tip from the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about a user who was uploading child sexual exploitation materials. The ICE team did not know the user was a teacher until recently.
ALERT said the ICE team arrested Dwayne Schnell on Wednesday. He is charged with possession, accessing and distributing child pornography. A number of computers and electronic devices were seized from his home in Lethbridge and will be examined.
Part of his release conditions are:
- He cannot have any device capable of accessing the Internet, like a computer or cellphone and can only go online at a public library.
- A peace officer or probation officer can conduct a warrant-less search of his residence at any time to make sure he is not using a computer or the Internet.
- He cannot have any contact with any children under 16 years of age, accept for his own two children (with his wife or parents present).
- He can’t have any type of recording devices like a camera or video recorder.
- He must not attend any area where children under 16 could be present like parks, schools, swinging pools, playgrounds or a daycare.
Schnell has hired defence lawyer Greg White.
He will be back in court for his next appearance March 24.
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