Latest news with #NationalSexOffenderRegistry
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Cops posing as kids online lead to arrest of 36 men across Ontario in provincewide child luring investigation
Thirty-six men across the province are facing a combined 128 charges after police posed as children online during a two-week sexual exploitation investigation. According to Ontario Provincial Police, investigators from 21 participating police forces 'utilized undercover techniques' to access online chat rooms and social media applications in order to identify, locate and arrest suspects looking to sexually exploit children. 'You wouldn't leave your child alone in a city, don't let them navigate the online world alone.' - Detective Staff Sergeant Tim Brown, Provincial Internet Child Exploitation Strategy 36 arrests, 128 charges laid, 9 victims identified during a proactive luring project,… The luring investigation ran from March 31 to April 11, leading to the arrest of 36 men between the ages of 18 and 73. During the investigation, police say officers posed as children online and waited for suspects to make contact. One of the accused arrived at a meeting location with snacks while another brought lubricant and condoms, say OPP. Another arrested suspect was listed on the National Sex Offender Registry, added police. As part of the investigation, nine real victims were identified and they were provided support and are safe, provincial police say. Fifty-one investigations remain ongoing. 'These results highlight a sobering reality: predators can easily reach children in online spaces,' said OPP Detective Staff-Sergeant Tim Brown. 'We urge parents and guardians to remain vigilant and to talk to your children about staying safe online. Just as you wouldn't leave your child alone in a city, don't let them navigate the online world alone.' The men charged by police in the luring investigation are residents of Ottawa, Pickering, Hamilton, London, Burlington, West Lincoln, Niagara Falls, Mississauga, Toronto, Vaughan, Belleville, Barrie, Chatham and Abbotsford, B.C. Their charges range from luring, sexual assault and obtain sexual services to various child pornography offences. Anyone with any information related to child sexual exploitation is urged to contact their local police or report it to . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
HUNTER: Almost all accused in Ontario online child luring sweep released
'A country, a movement, a person that does not value its youth and children doesn't deserve its future.' — Oliver Tambo And Canada is just such a place if recent developments in the nation's courtrooms are any indication. On Thursday, with great fanfare, cops across the province announced they had arrested 36 men and hammered them with 128 charges as a result of an online child luring investigation. You can also toss in a slew of child pornography charges. Cops accessed online chat rooms and social media to ID the alleged perverts and put the 'cuffs on them. Good work, coppers! But what happened next is vomit-inducing. All except two of the suspected creeps were released on bail. You heard that right. As the Sun's Jane Stevenson reported, one of the accused allegedly arrived for their hoped-for tryst with an underage teen armed with snacks. Another brought a mish-mash of sexual paraphernalia. One of the accused is already on the National Sex Offender Registry. None of these men are babes in the woods: The undercover detectives posed as children online, and then they waited. As expected, the alleged pedophiles — or as the faculty lounge now calls them, Minor Attracted Persons — came like flies to feces. As part of the probe, cops rescued nine real victims. But we should not be surprised by this latest outrage, according to Toronto criminal lawyer Monte MacGregor. 'Sexual offences — especially crimes against children — don't have penalties that accord with the actual damage done,' MacGregor told the Toronto Sun. 'These victims may be able to walk, talk and look like they have no issues on the outside, but inside they've been psychologically destroyed.' Among those arrested in the sweep was Steven Catucci, 47, of Whitby. DRPS alleged that Catucci thought he was talking to a 14-year-old girl. He then allegedly sent the teen sexually explicit images and arranged to meet in a Pickering park for sex. Kanav Bhatia, 24, of Toronto, was also ensnared in the spider's web. He allegedly lured and sexually assaulted two girls under the age of 16 in Peel. Cops say he used social media. He was also dinged with making child pornography. Taking the prize for the oldest charged was James Daw, 73, of Hamilton. Investigators say Daw allegedly communicated online with someone he believed was a 13-year-old girl. His missives to the girl allegedly contained 'sexually explicit messages and images,' and she was asked to send him photos. Investigators allege the man communicated on Chat IW with the username 'JuniorJohnson.' According to MacGregor, the goal for judges is a 'categorical comparison of severity' and to find the true reflection of harm done. 'The potential for recidivism isn't always captured. Sexual offences of this repugnant nature really call into question whether this offender should ever be released and whether any punishment will modify his inherent behaviour to endanger young children.' He added, 'I'm not a psychiatrist, but in the legal field, you have to ask whether rehabilitation is ever likely to occur.' MacGregor noted that the Supreme Court of Canada has also called for increased penalties for crimes against children. 'These people have their wires completely disconnected, and there isn't any amount of psychotherapy or medicine that can be administered to rewire their cognitive deficiencies,' he said. 'Eternally damaged and horrifically dangerous.' The investigation continues. None of the charges have been tested in court. PERSONS CHARGED – PROJECT SILKSTONE bhunter@ @HunterTOSun
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
36 men charged with 128 offences as part of child sex exploitation investigation, OPP says
Ontario Provincial Police say they have arrested and charged 36 men with a combined total of 128 offences as part of a child sexual exploitation investigation. The accused range in age from 18 to 73, the OPP said in a news release on Thursday. Police said investigators used undercover techniques to access online chat rooms and social media applications to identify, locate and arrest people looking to sexually exploit children. "These results highlight a sobering reality: predators can easily reach children in online spaces," OPP Det. Staff Sgt. Tim Brown said in the release. "We urge parents and guardians to remain vigilant and to talk to your children about staying safe online. Just as you wouldn't leave your child alone in a city, don't let them navigate the online world alone." The OPP described the operation as a "luring investigation." That means officers posed as children online and waited for people to make contact. Nine victims were identified. Police said the victims were provided with support and are safe. One of the accused arrived at a meeting location with snacks, while another arrived with lubricant and condoms, police said. One of the arrested men was listed on the National Sex Offender Registry. Police said 51 investigations are continuing. According to the OPP, 21 police forces from what is known as the Provincial Internet Child Exploitation Strategy took part in the investigation from March 31 to April 11. Police said police forces involved in the provincial strategy have noted a rise in reports of online child sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse material in recent years. The provincial strategy is made up of the Ontario Provincial Police Child Sexual Exploitation Unit, 26 municipal police forces, Ontario's ministry of the attorney general and the ministry of the solicitor general.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
36 men charged with 128 offences as part of child sex exploitation investigation, OPP says
Ontario Provincial Police say they have arrested and charged 36 men with a combined total of 128 offences as part of a child sexual exploitation investigation. The accused range in age from 18 to 73, the OPP said in a news release on Thursday. Police said investigators used undercover techniques to access online chat rooms and social media applications to identify, locate and arrest people looking to sexually exploit children. "These results highlight a sobering reality: predators can easily reach children in online spaces," OPP Det. Staff Sgt. Tim Brown said in the release. "We urge parents and guardians to remain vigilant and to talk to your children about staying safe online. Just as you wouldn't leave your child alone in a city, don't let them navigate the online world alone." The OPP described the operation as a "luring investigation." That means officers posed as children online and waited for people to make contact. Nine victims were identified. Police said the victims were provided with support and are safe. One of the accused arrived at a meeting location with snacks, while another arrived with lubricant and condoms, police said. One of the arrested men was listed on the National Sex Offender Registry. Police said 51 investigations are continuing. According to the OPP, 21 police forces from what is known as the Provincial Internet Child Exploitation Strategy took part in the investigation from March 31 to April 11. Police said police forces involved in the provincial strategy have noted a rise in reports of online child sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse material in recent years. The provincial strategy is made up of the Ontario Provincial Police Child Sexual Exploitation Unit, 26 municipal police forces, Ontario's ministry of the attorney general and the ministry of the solicitor general.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
36 men charged with 128 offences as part of child sex exploitation investigation, OPP says
Ontario Provincial Police say they have arrested and charged 36 men with a combined total of 128 offences as part of a child sexual exploitation investigation. The accused range in age from 18 to 73, the OPP said in a news release on Thursday. Police said investigators used undercover techniques to access online chat rooms and social media applications to identify, locate and arrest people looking to sexually exploit children. "These results highlight a sobering reality: predators can easily reach children in online spaces," OPP Det. Staff Sgt. Tim Brown said in the release. "We urge parents and guardians to remain vigilant and to talk to your children about staying safe online. Just as you wouldn't leave your child alone in a city, don't let them navigate the online world alone." The OPP described the operation as a "luring investigation." That means officers posed as children online and waited for people to make contact. Nine victims were identified. Police said the victims were provided with support and are safe. One of the accused arrived at a meeting location with snacks, while another arrived with lubricant and condoms, police said. One of the arrested men was listed on the National Sex Offender Registry. Police said 51 investigations are continuing. According to the OPP, 21 police forces from what is known as the Provincial Internet Child Exploitation Strategy took part in the investigation from March 31 to April 11. Police said police forces involved in the provincial strategy have noted a rise in reports of online child sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse material in recent years. The provincial strategy is made up of the Ontario Provincial Police Child Sexual Exploitation Unit, 26 municipal police forces, Ontario's ministry of the attorney general and the ministry of the solicitor general.
