Man accused of sexually assaulting boy faces new charges involving child porn

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on July 20, 2024.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A southern Alberta man’s plan to resolve several sex-related offences next month in Taber may be in jeopardy after he was arrested and charged with more offences.

The accused is set to resolve charges of sexual assault, making child pornography, accessing child pornography, and possessing child pornography when he returns to Taber court on Aug. 13. However, on Friday in Lethbridge court of justice he faced new charges, including accessing child pornography and possession of child pornography, which his lawyer suggested may impact the early case resolution agreement he has with the Crown prosecutor on the Taber charges. The accused also faces three counts of failing to comply with release conditions.

The man, who can’t be named to protect the identity of a young victim from the earlier charges, is accused of sexually assaulting the child while in a relationship with the child’s mother. The mother was also charged and pleaded guilty on May 28 to one count of sexual assault, but sentencing was adjourned to Aug. 6 allow time for a psychologist to conduct a forensic assessment on the woman’s mental health.

Police officers arrested the mother on Nov. 2, 2023 after searching a Lethbridge home. Officers went to the home after uncovering evidence of the alleged abuse from a case that took place earlier in the year in Barnwell and resulted in the arrest of a 41-year-old man. Police believe the two suspects were in a previous relationship and sexually assaulted the child, in addition to sharing child sexual abuse materials.

Police searched the Barnwell home on Sept. 19, following a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that shared information about an Alberta suspect uploading child pornography through Facebook.

The investigation by ALERT Internet Child Exploitation unit (ICE), also resulted in the rescue of the school-age child.

A forensic analysis of computers seized from the Barnwell home identified nearly half a million photos and videos of child sexual abuse materials. Among the collection, ICE identified a series of materials that they believe are unique and were possibly created by the man.

Further investigation revealed the materials were produced in Alberta, and ICE was able to identify a suspect and the child being abused.

The newer charges are scheduled to return to court on Aug. 13.