A Barrie man is facing three charges following a four-month investigation by the Barrie Police Service Internet Child Exploitation Unit.
Police arrested the 21-year-old man on Thursday, October 15th, and charged him with:
- possession of child sexual abuse and exploitation material
- accessing child sexual abuse and exploitation material
- distributing child sexual abuse and exploitation material
The investigation began after the unit received reports from the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children regarding the distribution of child sexual abuse and exploitation material through Discord and X, formerly known as Twitter.
In June, police executed a search warrant at a Barrie residence and seized several computer devices belonging to the accused. Forensic analysis and categorization of the devices led to the discovery of hundreds of files containing child sexual abuse and exploitation material, according to police.
Barrie Police are reminding parents and caregivers to speak regularly with children about their online activities and the people they interact with.
Police emphasize that people online may not always be who they claim to be and encourage children to speak with a trusted adult if someone makes them uncomfortable or makes inappropriate requests or demands.
For more information and tips on staying safe on social media, click here.
