By David Opinko

Three people from Lethbridge charged with child pornography offences

Jun 26, 2020 | 10:46 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – 18 people across Alberta have been arrested on allegations of child pornography and/or online child exploitation.

The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team’s (ALERT) Internet Child Exploitation unit (ICE) investigated several referrals from the RCMP’s National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre.

The arrests were made between May 20 and June 23, 2020.

“Online child exploitation victimizes our most vulnerable and is a crime against an entire society that’s built around nurturing our children and keeping them safe,” said Doug Schweitzer, Minister of Justice and Solicitor General. “Identifying and arresting the perpetrators who prey on children is complex and challenging work, and I commend the investigators of ALERT’s ICE unit for their tireless dedication to this grim, but absolutely necessary, duty.”

According to ALERT, each of the 18 suspects faces at least one charge related to child pornography. The people accused are as follows:

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• Bryan Alas Hernandez, 18, of Lethbridge
• Brandon Bran Eguizabal, 26, of Lethbridge
• Yonatan Castro Linares, 25, of Lethbridge
• Darcy Hazard, 57, of Airdrie
• Keone Friesen, 21, of Calgary
• Richard McCleary, 61, of Calgary
• George Power, 45, of Calgary
• An 18-year-old from Edmonton, who was underaged at the time of the arrest
• Tyson Campbell, 27, of Edmonton
• Wayne Kupsch, 52, of Edmonton
• James Venance, 63, of Edmonton
• Kristofer Hastings, 28, of Edmonton
• Evan Cardinal, 31, of Frog Lake
• Anas Khatib, 24, of Grande Prairie
• Jesse Young, 20, of Grande Prairie
• Hans-Ulrich Gerber, 74, of Red Deer
• Dean Bertsch, 62, of Sherwood Park
• Travis Harder, 31, of Sherwood Park

There is believed to be no definitive links between any of the suspects other than the nature of the charges.

In March 2020, ALERT received a record 243 reports of alleged online child exploitation. This is more than double the monthly two-year average of 110.

“This is a level of activity that has been unparalleled in the existence of the ICE unit,” said ALERT CEO and Superintendent Dwayne Lakusta. “ICE is working incredibly hard to put predators behind bars, but we need parents to do their part and be vigilant of their kids’ online activities.”

Lakusta speculates that the rise in investigative referrals is “likely in part related to digital dependency during COVID-19 isolation measures.”

ICE investigates offences involving child pornography, any computer-related child sexual abuse, child luring over the Internet, voyeurism involving victims under the age of 18, and child sex trade/tourism.

They work in partnership with police services in Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Calgary, Edmonton, and Alberta RCMP.