ALERT charges Edmonton man in connection to existing child exploitation investigation

Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) has made another arrested in connection to an internet child exploitation investigation in Strathcona County.

On Feb. 7, ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) team charged a mother from Strathcona County with sexual exploitation of a child and making child pornography, according to the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT).

ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit says the mother is accused of having depicted and communicated graphic sexual abuse of her toddler in online chats with a man in California.

READ MORE: Edmonton-area mother charged with sexual exploitation of toddler after tip from FBI

Two days later, ICE reportedly rescued another child in Edmonton who was allegedly being sexually abused by their father.

According to ALERT, while officers were conducting preliminary forensic analysis of computers seized from the Strathcona County woman, they found online conversations with the Edmonton man.

Since then, the 36-year-old father has been charged with the following:

• Sexual assault;
• Sexual interference;
• Making child pornography;
• Accessing child pornography;
• Distributing child pornography; and
• Possession of child pornography.

The father’s name is not being released to protect the child’s identity. He was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court Mar. 21 in Edmonton.

Additional charges

Through their initial investigation, ALERT has found new evidence in the initial investigation into the Strathcona County woman.

On Feb. 28, she was charged with the following:

• Sexual assault;
• Sexual interference;
• Sexual exploitation;
• Making child pornography;
• Possession of child pornography;
• Accessing child pornography;
• Counsel to commit sexual assault;
• Counsel to commit sexual interference;
• Counsel to commit sexual exploitation;
• Agreement or arrangement to commit sexual offence against a child; and
• Distribute child pornography.

In total, she is facing with 24 charges. She was released and is scheduled to appear in court on Mar. 22, in Sherwood Park.

More cases

As the investigation continues, ICE says it fears they may uncover additional victims.

The team is reportedly “frantically combing through digital evidence to explore the possibility of other children at-risk.”

Numerous other agencies have also been involved in the investigation, including Strathcona County RCMP, Fort Saskatchewan RCMP, Edmonton Police Service, ALERT Surveillance teams, FBI, and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact their local authorities.

As for the children that were rescued, ALERT says they “are receiving help from a variety of specialized support services, including Zebra Center for Child Protection and Edmonton Police Services’ Child at Risk Response Team.”