Sault, Sudbury residents face child pornography charges

As the result of a massive, province-wide investigation, 35 Ontario residents face 122 charges relating to child pornography.

Among those charged are:

- David Marceau, 21, of Sault Ste. Marie - charged with one count possession of child pornography, and one count make available child pornography.

- Richard Nault, 56, of Sudbury - charged with one count possession of child pornography, one count possession of a prohibited firearm, six counts unsafe storage of a firearm/ ammunition, four counts unauthorized possession of a firearm, one count unauthorized possession of prohibited ammunition, and one count possession of cannabis marijuana.

- Ryan Hopkins, 27, of Sudbury - charged with three counts voyeurism, one count criminal harassment, one count possession of child pornography, one count manufacture child pornography, two counts unauthorized access to computer, two counts mischief to data, two counts breach of weapons prohibition, and one count possession of a controlled substance.

- Adrian Cote, 19, of Sudbury - charged with two counts possession of child pornography, one count access child pornography, and one count make available child pornography.

Full text of the Ontario Provincial Police news release follows:

****************************** Province-wide arrests of child pornography offenders

ORILLIA, ON - (March 10) - Numerous charges have been laid across Ontario following a massive, coordinated, child pornography investigation by the Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet.

At a media conference in Toronto, OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino along with members of the Provincial Strategy's police partners, who were instrumental in bringing this investigation to a successful conclusion, announced details of this investigation.

A total of 44 search warrants were executed, resulting in 122 charges against 35 persons.

Charges include sexual assault, possession of child pornography, make available child pornography, distribution of child pornography, making child pornography, accessing child pornography, and various drug offences.

In addition, two child victims have been identified during the investigation - one in Ontario and one outside of Canada and numerous charges regarding possession of prohibited weapons have been laid.

Members of the OPP Child Sexual Exploitation Section also took the opportunity to encourage parents and guardians to proactively increase their awareness of Internet safety issues.

Additional arrests are pending and the investigation continues.

Quotes

"Every image of child pornography represents a child victim. Every trading or transmission of that image represents a re-victimization of that child. The police services associated with the Provincial Strategy remain steadfast in their resolve to hunt down these child predators and keep our communities safe." - Julian Fantino, OPP commissioner

"Parents and guardians need to educate themselves about the technology their children are using to adequately protect them. Unfortunately, most parents and guardians are lagging far behind their children in their understanding of web technology." - Inspector Scott Naylor, manager, OPP Child Sexual Exploitation Section

Background

The Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet was created in August 2006 in response to the McGuinty government's request that police develop a coordinated, province-wide approach to combating Internet crimes against children.

The Provincial Strategy is jointly supported by the Ministry of the Attorney-General for Ontario and the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services.

The Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet is comprised of the OPP Child Exploitation Section and 18 municipal police services.

The 18 police services partners include: Sault Ste. Marie PS, Greater Sudbury PS, Thunder Bay PS, Barrie PS, Brantford PS, Durham Regional PS, Guelph PS, Halton Regional PS, Hamilton PS, Kingston PS, London PS, Niagara Regional PS, Ottawa PS, Peel Regional PS, Toronto PS, Waterloo Regional PS, Windsor PS and the York Regional PS.

Members of the Peterborough-Lakefield Community Police Service, Sarnia Police, and Cornwall Police Service also conducted investigations and executed search warrants as part of the March 2010 investigation.

Since August 2006 to March 1, 2010, there have been 8,260 investigations completed by the Provincial Strategy partners and OPP Child Sexual Exploitation Section.

During that time, 3,394 charges have been laid against 1,130 people in the province of Ontario.

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