By Troy Gillard -- RDNewsNOW

Sylvan Lake doctor arrested for trying to arrange sex with child

Jun 30, 2018 | 1:15 AM

EDMONTON ––  A well-known family physician from Sylvan Lake stands accused of trying to arrange sex with a young girl.

The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) says Dr. Fred Janke was arrested in Edmonton on Thursday. The 62-year-old faces charges of making arrangements to commit sexual offences against a child, making child pornography, and distribution of child pornography.

Dating back to October 2017, ALERT says Janke had allegedly been engaged in sexually explicit conversations with a person he met online. The sexual conversations allegedly progressed to Janke attempting to arrange for sex with the person’s 5-year-old daughter. However, the daughter did not exist and Janke had actually been speaking with a Victoria Police Department undercover operator.

According to ALERT, the Victoria Police Department’s ICE (Internet Child Exploitation) unit had been conducting a proactive, online investigation involving a website that is known to host online chat rooms geared towards child sex. Once the Victoria Police Department ICE investigators determined the suspect was based in Alberta, the information was referred to ALERT’s ICE Unit.

“Our investigation is strictly related to online criminal offences. Currently, we have no information to suggest that any children were physically harmed,” S/Sgt. Stephen Camp with the ALERT ICE unit said during a Friday afternoon media conference in Edmonton. “However, given his position of trust and authority as a family physician, it is only prudent that we bring this to the public’s attention and open the door for potential victims to come forward.”

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While the investigation and charges are related strictly to online offences, ICE is encouraging anyone with information about this case to come forward and contact police or cybertip.ca.

Janke began practicing medicine in Sylvan Lake in 1984 and helped establish the Sylvan Family Health Centre in 1988. He was named Sylvan Lake’s Citizen of the Year and Outstanding Clinician of the Year for the David Thompson Health Region in 2000.

In 2008, he became an Associate Professor (Rural Program Director) in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Alberta. The U of A released a brief statement following Janke’s arrest, saying only that they are unable to comment on an active police investigation and will co-operate fully if requested.

At the time of his arrest, Janke was president of the Alberta College of Family Physicians (ACFP), who also released a statement regarding his arrest.

“The Alberta College of Family Physicians is shocked and saddened by this news announced today,” the statement reads. “Due to the gravity of this matter, we will not be available for further comment. President Elect, Dr. Vishal Bhella has assumed the role of President, Alberta College of Family Physicians effectively immediately.”

Janke has been an active member of his church in Sylvan Lake and has led missions to provide medical services in Jamaica and Belize. He has also been a member of the Red Deer Community Jazz Band.

He has one son and one granddaughter.