The Upper Ottawa Valley (UOV) Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Crime Unit, with assistance from OPP's Child Sexual Exploitation Unit and Digital Forensics Unit, have arrested and charged a local resident following a months-long child sexual exploitation investigation. As part of the investigation police executed a search warrant in the Town of Petawawa and seized a quantity of electronic devices.
On September 13, 2023, police arrested and charged 34-year-old Kyle Alexander TURTON of Petawawa with the following Criminal Code (CC) offences:
- Luring a person under 18 years of age by means of telecommunication - four counts
- Luring a person under 16 years of age by means of telecommunication - four counts
- Transmit sexually explicit material to a person under 18 years of age - three counts
- Transmit sexually explicit material to a person under 16 years of age - seven counts
- Possession of child pornography - one count
- Indecent exposure to a person under 16 years of age - six counts
- Communicate with anyone under 18 years of age for the purpose of obtaining sexual services - one count
- Voyeurism - three counts
The accused was held for a bail hearing and remains in custody until their next appearance on October 12, 2023, at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke.
The OPP will continue to aggressively identify and pursue individuals who use technology to exploit children. Parents are reminded to take a proactive approach to help protect their children from online sexual exploitation by speaking with their children regarding Internet safety. Parents can find resources to assist them at cybertip.ca or protectchildren.ca.
If you have information regarding internet child exploitation and wish to provide information anonymously you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca. Reporting information may also be made on the internet through cybertip.ca.