By Troy Gillard

ALERT cracks down

26 Albertans charged after province-wide child pornography investigation

Sep 30, 2020 | 10:17 AM

Twenty-six suspects from across Alberta face a total of 63 charges related to online child sexual exploitation.

The ALERT Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) says the arrests were made between June 20 and September 17, and that most of them came as the result of investigative referrals from the RCMP’s National Child Exploitation Crime Centre, which works with internet and social media providers to track and investigate online instances of child sexual exploitation.

“The internet isn’t anonymous and these arrests demonstrate ALERT’s willingness to travel to all corners of the province to make arrests, put predators behind bars, and keep kids safe,” said Supt. Dwayne Lakusta, ALERT Chief Executive Officer.

ALERT says there is no definitive link between the suspects other than the nature of the alleged offences. Each of the suspects was charged with at least one child pornography offence:

• a 16-year-old young offender from Sherwood Park;

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• Kevin Borchert, a 29-year-old man from Sherwood Park;

• David Cadieux, a 27-year-old man from Calgary;

• Joseph Cadrain, a 32-year-old man from Strathmore;

• Gary Campbell, a 28-year-old man from Lamont;

• Michael Ciesla, a 32-year-old man from Edmonton;

• Michael Courtepatte, a 44-year-old man from Athabasca;

• Victor Delage, a 29-year-old man from Wainright;

• Gerald Donel, a 57-year-old man from Edmonton;

• Brian Farris, a 40-year-old man from Grande Prairie;

• Humberto Ferreyra, a 51-year-old man from Lake Louise;

• Coby Franz, a 42-year-old man from Alder Flats;

• Sean Giles, a 41-year-old man from Lethbridge;

• Brock Hann, a 21-year-old man from Morinville;

• Richard Lepchuk, a 59-year-old man from Edmonton;

• Christian Meier, a 52-year-old man from Calgary;

• Troy Melnyk, a 49-year-old man from Spruce Grove;

• Stephen Miehe, a 28-year-old man from Cardston;

• Alasdair Mills, a 61-year-old man from Edmonton;

• David Peeke, a 45-year-old man from Edmonton;

• Christopher Piers-Hanley, a 31-year-old man from Edmonton;

• Kalon Specht, a 30-year-old man from Edmonton;

• Andrew Stredick, a 30-year-old man from Calgary;

• Charles Tadashore, a 43-year-old man from Calgary;

• Laurence Thrasher, a 40-year-old man from Edmonton; and

• Michael Vandermay, a 52-year-old man from Calgary.

A full list of offences was posted to ALERT’s website.

ICE worked in collaboration with a number of police agencies during their investigation, including: Caribou Child and Youth Centre; Calgary Police Service; Edmonton Police Service; and various RCMP detachments, including Grande Prairie, Spruce Grove, Strathcona County, Wainwright, Breton, Strathmore, Olds, Morinville, Cardston, Lake Louise, Fort Saskatchewan, and Athabasca.

ICE speculates that the rise in the number of investigative referrals is likely in part related to digital dependency during COVID-19 isolation measures.

The Canadian Centre for Child Protection has information on its site dedicated to supporting families during the COVID-19 crisis, including resources for families and caregivers; schools and educators; and child-serving organizations.