NIPIGON, ON – Members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Schreiber Detachment, with the assistance of the North West Region Crime Unit and the OPP Child Sexual Exploitation Unit (CSEU) is investigating an incident involving a 16-year-old victim.  The incident occurred on January 6, 2013 at a local hotel, when the victim was video recorded and that recording was subsequently uploaded to a social media website.

As a result of the ongoing investigation, the OPP have charged a 19-year-old male with:

• Printing and/or Publishing Child Pornography;
• Importing and/or Distributing Child Pornography; and,
• Possessing Child Pornography contrary to the Criminal Code.

The name of the accused is being withheld to protect the identity of the victim. The individual is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Schreiber on April 25, 2013.

The OPP has taken as many steps as possible to ensure the source materials are no longer available via social media and is confident the material can no longer be seen by members of the community or their online peers.  However, investigators are aware that this material may have been already shared within the community of Schreiber.  As a result, the OPP is warning the general public that criminal charges can result from anyone viewing sexually-explicit images and video of a young person who is under the age of 18, as that material constitutes child pornography under the Criminal Code.

“Viewing sexually explicit images or videos of a person under the age of 18 is child pornography and it is a crime!” says Staff Sergeant Randy Bye, Detachment Commander of Nipigon/Schreiber.  “The thought that these images may be redistributed by certain individuals who fail to appreciate the seriousness of their callous actions will not be tolerated by the members of this detachment nor this community.  We will take appropriate enforcement action when warranted.” he added.

The OPP are reminding the public that possessing, printing, publishing, and re-distributing these images and videos are criminal offences and are asking the public’s assistance to prevent any further victimization by contacting the OPP if you have any information that these images are being captured or shared.  The investigation is continuing.

If you have any information with regard to this crime or any other crime, contact the Ontario Provincial Police at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).