The Albert Law Enforcement Response Team’s Internet Child Exploitation unit (ICE) has charged an Edmonton man with allegedly sexually assaulting and making and distributing pornography of his own young daughter.
Det. Kevin Fald of ALERT’s ICE Northern Alberta ICE unit said concern now is for the seven-year-old victim and her two siblings, who might also be victims.
“As far as our scope when you have someone who’s doing the sexual assault, taking images of the sexual assault and distributing them on the Internet, that’s the significance here.”
The arrest came after Italian authorities alerted the ICE unit of pornographic material originating at an Edmonton IP address, after arresting a suspect in that country and seizing a computer.
“For us it’s very rare we have the opportunity to not only potentially rescue the child but to identify and also potentially stop someone that’s producing pornography,” said Fald.
Police found the home where they believe the pornography was being produced on Sept. 23, and took the children and their mother, who Fald said was unaware of the father’s actions, to the ZEBRA Child Protection Centre.
The 37-year-old man was arrested when he returned home, police said.
He can’t be identified to protect his daughter’s identity.
Police are not sure how long the images have been online.
“Yes, these images could show up all over the world,” said Fald.
Computers and storage media were seized and are being reviewed by forensic teams.
The 37-year-old Edmonton man made a first court appearance last Saturday, and is in custody until his next court appearance on Oct. 12.
The accused father faces six charges, including sexual assault and sexual interference, and production, possession, accessing and distribution of child pornography.
