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A photo of Darcy Heitman taken from his Facebook Page

By David Opinko with files from Lara Fominoff

Lethbridge man charged with child luring and variety of child porn offences

Dec 12, 2019 | 10:21 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT)’s Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit has made an arrest in Lethbridge.

27-year-old Darcy Heitman was apprehended on Thursday, December 5th with assistance from Lethbridge Police Service.

ICE alleges that Heitman engaged in sexually-explicit conversations with children, who he then coerced into sending him nude photographs.

A number of computers and electronic devices were seized from his home.

The investigation dates back to September 2019 when RCMP’s National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre provided information about a Lethbridge suspect uploading child pornography via a social media application.

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The full list of charges against Heitman includes child luring, making child pornography, distributing child pornography, accessing child pornography, possessing child pornography, theft, and possession of stolen property.

A Facebook profile picture belonging to a Darcy Heitman that describes him as living in Coaldale, but from Lethbridge, has been verified by Constable Jason Richmond.

ICE will be conducting a full forensic analysis in order to determine the full scope of the suspected criminal activity.

Heitman is scheduled to appear in court January 8th, 2020.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact their local police service or submit tips online to cybertip.ca

by David Opinko with files from Lara Fominoff