A child pornography investigation in central Alberta has led to eight charges against a Red Deer man, including sexual assault.
The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams’ (ALERT) Internet Child Exploitation Unit (ICE) investigation began as an online child pornography investigation, but police uncovered “sexual exploitation offences against child victims,” a news release said on Monday.
“At that point, the investigation identified many other victims and that this investigation was more wide reaching than we imagined,” ALERT spokesperson Mike Tucker said Monday afternoon.
Several victims have already been identified, but police believe there could be more. ALERT believes the offences could date back as far as 20 years.
“We are asking anyone with information about this case to contact ICE investigators,” Tucker said. “We have created a dedicated tip line at 403-581-1090 or you can submit information anonymously via Crime Stoppers.”
Several charges have been laid in relation to crimes allegedly committed against one victim that “took place fairly recently,” Tucker said. He wouldn’t elaborate on the current age of the victim, but did confirm that the victim knows the man charged.
“We know that these are children that were being allegedly offended on, some of these that we have initially spoken with are young adults now.”
Tucker said their investigation so far suggests that the victims all knew the accused.
“A case like this, where it’s an assailant that was known to his victims, it really emphasizes the need for parents to have those conversations with their children. As uncomfortable and unsettling as a case like this may be, it’s important to open that dialogue.”
Stuart Peter Hunt, 54, is facing charges of possessing, accessing, distributing and making child pornography, as well as sexual assault, sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching and making sexually explicit material available to a child.
Hunt is not in a position of trust or authority and ALERT said he also lived in Oyen and has connections to Three Hills, Sylvan Lake and Didsbury.
The investigation was launched earlier this month when the RCMP’s National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre was notified about a social media user allegedly uploading child pornography.
“I don’t want to provide the exact social media application that was being used because that could eliminate or narrow the scope of our investigation, but there’s many online that you could download and share child pornography,” Tucker said.
“In some instances, there are clear indications that social media was involved [in making contact with the victim], but with these cases dating back to 20 years ago, we’re entertaining a whole host of possibilities.”
Hunt was arrested on Jan. 17 and has since been released from custody. He is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 16.
ALERT said several devices were seized during a search of the suspect’s home.
“This is a burden that the victims have had to live with for far too long,” Tucker said. “We understand the difficulties with coming forward and also shouldering that guilt. But allow us to help lift that burden and begin the healing process. Your courage in coming forward can help ensure that no other children are harmed again.”
There is a publication ban barring anyone from identifying the victim(s) in the case where charges have been laid.
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