(Photo: CHAT News Today)

By Eli J. Ridder

Medicine Hat man charged with sexual exploitation of preteen Tennessee girl

May 10, 2024 | 1:39 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – A Medicine Hat man has been arrested after allegedly sexually exploiting a young girl.

A lengthy joint investigation by ALERT’s internet child exploitation unit and the Internet Crimes Against Children task force of the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office concluded with the arrest of the 38-year-old at his Medicine Hat home.

The suspect allegedly coerced the youth into sharing sexually explicit photos via multiple online chat applications while purporting to be a 13-year-old youth, according to an ALERT news release on Friday.

The offences date back to 2021 when the victim was just 11 years old.

A search of the man’s home led to the seizure of multiple computers and electronic devices, which are currently being analyzed by investigators.

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The Medicine Hat Police Service helped with the search warrant execution.

Sgt. Mark Auger, of ALERT’s internet child exploitation unit, said there were thousands of messages sent to the preteen.

“There were over 7,000 messages exchanged between the suspect and the victim,” Auger said.

We’re talking daily conversations that only stopped when it was discovered by the victim’s parent. This further underscores the need for parents to take a proactive role in understanding what their children are doing online,” he added.

It was an international effort by the two law enforcement agencies only made possible through quick responsiveness, Internet Crime Against Children task force Det. Paul Lusk said.

“Together, we transcended borders and remained diligent in our shared purpose of bringing justice to adults that are preying on our children,” Lusk said in a statement.

Tyler Clark, 38, is charged with child luring, making sexually explicit materials available to a child, making child pornography, possessing child pornography and accessing child pornography.

The suspect was released from custody on a number of court-imposed conditions to await his next court appearance scheduled for May 22.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now

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