December 1, 2022 – Hundreds of charges have been laid across Ontario, a snapshot of the work done by investigators and analysts that make up the Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet (Provincial Strategy).
The results of the investigations completed in October, named Project MAVERICK, were announced in a video release showcasing members of the Provincial Strategy. During the month, the 27 policing partners conducted 255 investigations, completed 168 search warrants and seized 1,032 devices. In total, 428 charges were laid against 107 people. During the investigations, 61 victims were identified and referred to appropriate community-based resources for assistance, while an additional 60 children were safeguarded. There are 175 ongoing investigations where additional charges may be laid.
The Provincial Strategy includes two ministries (Attorney General and Solicitor General) and 27 participating police agencies: Barrie, Belleville, Brantford, Chatham-Kent, Cornwall, Durham, Greater Sudbury, Guelph, Halton, Hamilton, Kingston, London, Niagara, North Bay, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Ottawa, Peel, Peterborough, Sarnia, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay, Timmins, Toronto, Waterloo, Windsor, Woodstock and York.
Additional partners that participated in these investigations included OPP Digital Forensics, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Canada Border Services Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security. The BOOST Child and Youth Advocacy Centre, the Children’s Aid Society and the Canadian Centre for Child Protection provided victims’ support and education.
Since the Provincial Strategy began in 2006, it has completed 65,564 investigations and laid 24,608 charges against 6,540 people. A total of 3,470 victims have been identified worldwide.
The video outlining the investigation is available on Twitter (@OPP_News), Facebook (@ontarioprovincialpolice) and youtu.be/S7SzSSlRmLk. A full list of charges for Project MAVERICK is included in the Addendum of Charged Persons that can be found on opp.ca/news/#/mediakit.
The investigations continue and anyone with information on these or any child exploitation investigations are asked to contact their local police. Report any instances of online child abuse to police or cybertip.ca. If a child is being harmed, call 9-1-1.
QUOTES
“These numbers are shocking, but they provide hope by showing the lengths our teams are willing to go to protect children. I would like to express gratitude for the hard work of the Provincial Strategy members, and our partners, in keeping children in this province safe and holding those who want to harm them accountable.”
– OPP Chief Superintendent Kari Dart, OPP Investigation and Support Bureau
“The work done by the Provincial Strategy members take us to some of the darkest corners of society and exposes the horrific crimes committed every day against children. This is not a crime that can be combatted by our members alone and we ask that everyone out there recognize the importance they play in protecting children. Report these crimes, remain vigilant and educate yourself.”
– OPP Detective Sergeant Jamie King, Provincial Strategy Lead
Those related to the Cornwall area charged were:
Jordan SANDERSON-BROWN 30 Cornwall, Ontario
• Possession of Child Pornography
• Make Available Child Pornography
• Accessing Child Pornography
Released on Undertaking, First appearance November 29, 2022
Benoit BOURGUIGNON 26 Cornwall, Ontario
• Possession of Child Pornography
• Make Available Child Pornography
• Accessing Child Pornography
Released on Undertaking, First appearance December 13, 2022
As well as:
Doric LATREILLE 23 Ottawa/Cornwall, Ontario
• Possession of Child Pornography x2
• Make Available Child Pornography
• Counsel an Uncommitted Indictable Offence
• Luring a Person under 18 years of age
• Distribution of Child Pornography
• Making sexually explicit material available to child x2
• Luring a person under 16
Out on bail, house arrest with GPS bracelet. Court date set December 8, 2022 for plea.
Jennifer LALONDE-MEDEIROS 22 Ottawa/Cornwall, Ontario
• Possession of Child Pornography x2
Out on bail, strict conditions, no court date (adj)
RESOURCES
To learn how to keep children safe, go to Canadian Centre for Child Protection or cybertip.ca.