2 Ottawa men charged in Ontario child sexual exploitation investigation
An Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) patch is seen in Ottawa, on September 29, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
Two Ottawa residents are facing charges in connection to a child sexual exploitation investigation in Ontario this spring.
Ontario Provincial Police say 21 police services took part in the luring investigation between March 31 and April 11, including the Ottawa Police Service, Cornwall police and Belleville police.
'Investigators utilized undercover techniques to access online chatrooms and social media applications in order to identify, locate and arrest persons looking to sexually exploit children,' the OPP said.
Police say all 36 people facing charges are male, from Ontario and British Columbia, and range in age from 18 to 73. Fifty-one investigations remain ongoing.
'Although this was a luring investigation in which officers posed as children online and waited for offenders to make contact, nine real victims were identified. They have been provided support and are safe,' the OPP said in a statement.
'One of the accused arrived at the meeting location with snacks and one arrived with sexual paraphernalia.'
A 40-year-old Ottawa man and a 61-year-old man from Ottawa are each facing two counts of luring a person under 16.
A 56-year-old Belleville man is facing a single count of luring a person under 16.
'These results highlight a sobering reality: predators can easily reach children in online spaces,' OPP Det. Sgt. Tim Brown said in a statement.
'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.'
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