Parkland County firefighter facing child pornography charges
Posted June 13, 2024 11:34 am.
The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) has charged a 26-year-old firefighter for allegedly accessing and transmitting child pornography.
ALERT says they were notified in October 2023 that a man in Parkland County was distributing child sexual abuse material on social media through Snapchat and began an investigation.
As a result of their investigation, RCMP in Parkland County took Matthew Shaw into custody on June 5.
A number of computers and electronic were seized from his home, and police say they are being examined. During the search of Shaw’s home, police also found and seized everal guns.
“We have charged suspects from all sorts of professions, all walks of life, and there is truly no demographic profile. This underscores the need for awareness and education between parents and children concerning online safety,” said Staff Sgt. Jon Morrison, ALERT ICE.
Shaw has since been charged with possession of child pornography, accessing child pornography, and transmitting child pornography, as well as two counts of unsafe storage of a firearm.
He has been released from custody with a number of conditions and is expected to be in court on July 3.
ALERT says Shaw’s employment placed him in a position of trust and authority, and they are encouraging anyone with information to contact their local police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
