(ALERT)

By Justin Goulet

24 Albertans charged with 60 offences related to online child exploitation

Apr 20, 2021 | 9:16 AM

CALGARY, AB – ALERT’S Internet Child Exploitation Unit (ICE) started the new year off with multiple arrests in connection to the online exploitation of children.

Between January 1 and March 31, 24 suspects from across the province were arrested. In total, they face 60 charges. ICE noted that there is “no definitive link between the suspects” other than the nature of the alleged crimes.

The arrests came as a result of investigative referrals from the RCMP’s National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre, which works with internet and social media providers to track and investigate online instances of child sexual exploitation.

Each suspect has been charged with at least one child pornography offence:

• Jerry Lee Thompson, 47-year-old from Fort MacLeod
• Michael Antonio, 25-year-old man from Calgary
• Curt Backlund, 48-year-old man from Grande Prairie
• Brad Bailey, 19-year-old man from Marlboro
• Brett Beer, 54-year-old man from Onoway
• Eric Bultmann, 30-year-old man from Calgary
• Kevin Dykstra, 35-year-old man from Barrhead
• Brian Harrison, 35-year-old man from Calgary
• Jeremy Henderson, 42-year-old man from Okotoks
• Bryan Hillman, 39-year-old man from Calgary
• Christopher Hoffner, 34-year-old man from Medicine Hat
• James Kydd, 39-year-old man from Calgary
• Mica LePage, 44-year-old man from Edmonton
• Jordan MacDonald, 30-year-old man from Edmonton
• Cris Marshall, 29-year-old man from Stettler
• Stedson McDonald, 32-year-old man from Grande Prairie
• James Merrison, 21-year-old man from Edmonton
• Traline Munn, 44-year-old man from Cold Lake
• Krishnamoort Nalla Naidu, 38-year-old man from Edmonton
• Van Linh Nguyen, 24-year-old man from Edmonton
• Ivan Scott, 47-year-old man from Cochrane
• Hunter Tonneson, 20-year-old man from Blackfalds
• Chase Viau, 23-year-old man from Edmonton
• Richard Westland, 45-year-old man from Medicine Hat

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As part of the investigations into the alleged crimes, ICE was assisted by various partners, including Lethbridge Police, Calgary Police, Edmonton Police, Medicine Hat Police and RCMP detachments in Barrhead, Beaverlodge, Blackfalds, Cochrane, Edson, Fort Macleod, Grande Prairie, Onoway, Okotoks, Slave Lake, Stettler, and Wood Buffalo.

RECORD NUMBER OF CASE REFERRALS

In 2020, ICE received a record number of case referrals.

In order to address these, ICE collaborated with its policing partners to make arrests.

Last year, ICE experienced a nearly 40 per cent increase in its number of case referrals, with over 2,100 intakes.

ALERT’s ICE provided the following statistics on the number of referrals received:

· 2020-2021: 2,136

· 2019-2020: 1,555

· 2018-2019: 1,237

· 2017-2018: 903

· 2016-2017: 894

· 2015-2016: 749

In reference to the large spike in cases last year, ALERT CEO, Supt. Dwayne Lakusta said, “this is a concerning consequence of our digital dependency during the pandemic.”

“ALERT has responded by directing more tools and resources to our ICE units and we are prepared to travel to every corner of the province in order to stop child sex predators.”

Alberta’s Minister of Justice, the Honorable Kaycee Madu, stated that, “the sexual exploitation of children is a crime that tears at the fabric of society and preys on our most vulnerable.”

“Increased provincial funding is enabling ALERT to double the size of its ICE unit, ensuring it has the tools and resources to track down predators who commit these heinous acts and bring them to justice.”

Alberta’s ICE unit is one of the largest of its kind in Canada, with more than 50 positions in the department.