Twenty-six men from across Alberta, including a Morinville man, have been charged with 63 online child pornography offences following a three-month investigation by the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT).
One offender is Brock Hann, 21, from Morinville. He was charged on Tuesday, Aug. 11, with both possession and distribution of child pornography as well as an additional count of assault causing bodily harm.
The Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit, an arm of ALERT, conducted the investigation from June 20 to Sept. 17.
Most of the arrests resulted from the RCMP’s National Exploitation Crime Centre investigations. The centre is a hub that works with internet and social media providers to track and investigate online child exploitation.
The charges span 14 communities in Alberta.
“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,” stated Supt. Dwayne Lakusta, ALERT chief executive officer.
According to an ALERT media release, there is no definitive link between the suspects, and each was charged with at least one child pornography offence.
ICE speculates that the rise in the number of cases is likely in part due to increased internet use during COVID-19 isolation restrictions.
The following people face charges:
• A 16-year-old young offender from Sherwood Park;
• 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 Wainwright;
• 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.
ICE is an integrated team with members from police forces across the province. It investigates child pornography, computer-related child sexual abuse, Internet child luring, voyeurism involving victims under 18, and the child sex trade/tourism.
The Canadian Centre for Child Protection has information to support families. It includes resources for families and caregivers; schools and educators; and child-serving organizations. This information is available at: https://protectchildren.ca/en/resources-research/supporting-you-through-covid-19/
