$50,000 reward offered to help police trace Quebec fugitive wanted on multiple sex crimes

Warning: This story contains sensitive information some readers may find disturbing. 

Quebec provincial police are on a manhunt for Blake Charbonneau, suspected of sexually exploiting and assaulting multiple victims, and a $50,000 reward is being offered to anyone who helps authorities trace him.

Charbonneau, 35, whose last known residence is in Laval, Que., is said to be “extremely dangerous,” according to police. The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) says Charbonneau pimped multiple victims and committed armed sexual assaults.

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To date, authorities have four victims in the case, but Insp. Pierre Mathieu Vivier said earlier this week that police believe there are likely more.

The SQ’s anti-sexual exploitation task force has enlisted the case in the pan-Canadian BOLO (Be on the lookout) program, which is a national “most wanted list” that gets heavy media and social network coverage and digital displays and billboards (which will be up in Montreal, Laval, Terrebonne and Quebec City) alerting the public that police are searching for the suspect.

“In addition to controlling his victims and forcing them into the sex trade, he violently and sexually assaulted several women that he met on social media platforms,” reads a statement from the organization on the case.

BOLO, which is funded by the Stéphane Crétier Foundation, offers a reward of $50,000 to anyone whose information helps police trace the fugitive.

“We act to amplify the wanted notices of police forces,” said Maxime Langlois, director of the BOLO program.

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Police arrested Charbonneau on March 19, 2020, and he was due to appear in court on May 31, 2021, but didn’t show. He has been evading authorities since.

His arrest was initially connected with offences committed against one victim, and police didn’t see it necessary then to keep him behind bars until his court date, Vivier said.

“There was nothing at the time that lead us to believe that Charbonneau would not face justice. It was only afterwards that the seriousness of the offences and the number of victims (three more came forward) were noted by our investigators. It was then that pan-Canadian warrants were issued for his arrest.”

The suspect is wanted for sexually exploiting his victims (pimping), life-threatening sexual assault, sexual assault with a weapon, sexual assault with the assistance of a third party, gun possession and more.

Canada-wide arrest warrants have been issued for the 35-year-old. The fugitive is five feet seven inches tall, weighs around 175 lbs, has brown hair, blue eyes, often wears earrings and has a small Chinese symbol tattoo on his right shoulder. Police say he speaks French, English and Spanish.

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The $50,000 reward is available until July 12 and the BOLO program, which works in collaboration with Sun Youth, ensures that all information will be treated confidentially.

Police say anyone assisting Charbonneau in evading arrest may be considered an accessory after the fact and face charges.

BOLO has been in operation since 2018. It has been used in 16 files to date, which have led to six arrests.

Charbonneau’s case is the first time this program is being used in Quebec.

Anyone with any information on the suspect should contact Quebec provincial police at 1-800-659-4264, by email at cic@surete.qc.ca., or by calling 911.

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