Man facing 15 charges in connection with sexual assaults of young girls in Edmonton
Posted March 28, 2024 5:21 pm.
Edmonton police say a 53-year-old man has been charged in connection with the alleged sexual assaults of multiple girls.
EPS says its Child Protection Section began an investigation earlier in March into a reported assault.
Reports indicated a suspect allegedly befriended three young girls between the ages of 12 and 14 years old on Snapchat between December and March.
It is believed the suspect used the username @used2bc.
Police say through their investigation, they learned the suspect offered to purchase vapes, marijuana, and alcohol in exchange for nude images, videos, and in-person sexual contact.
EPS says charges have been laid against Horacio Benitez in connection with this case. He is facing two counts of sexual assault, two counts of sexual interference, two counts of invitation to sexual touching, two counts of luring a child, making child pornography, possessing child pornography, making sexually explicit available to a child, two counts obtaining sexual service of a child, and two counts of distributing cannabis to a person under 18.
Police say all three girls are being supported by the Zebra Child & Youth Advocacy Centre.
The EPS is asking anyone who believes they were victimized to contact investigators at 780-423-4567 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
