Update – Child Exploitation – Port Hope Man Arrested for Luring Offences

In July 2019, members of the Internet Child Exploitation (I.C.E.) Unit engaged in a joint investigation initiated by members of the Durham Regional Police Service I.C.E. Unit.

As a result of the investigation, on August 14th, 2019 with the assistance of the Port Hope Police Service Criminal Investigation Bureau (C.I.B.), 32 year old Ralph SWEENEY of Port Hope, Ontario was arrested and charged with the following offences:

1) Lure a Child, contrary to section 172.1(1)(a) of the Criminal Code; communicate with a person who is under the age of 18 for the purpose of facilitating an offence under subsection 163.1 with respect to that person; Make Child Pornography.

2)Lure a Child, contrary to section 172.1(1)(a) of the Criminal Code; communicate with a person who is under the age of 18 for the purpose of facilitating an offence under subsection 153(1) with respect to that person; Sexual Exploitation.

3) Making Sexually Explicit Material Available to a Child contrary to section 171.1(1)(a) of the Criminal Code; communicate with a person who is under the age of 18 for the purpose of facilitating an offence under subsection 153(1) with respect to that person; Sexual Exploitation

SWEENEY has been held in custody, pending a bail hearing scheduled for August 15th, 2019 at the Robert S. K. Welch Courthouse, 59 Church Street, in the City of St. Catharines.

The Niagara Regional Police Service is a member of the Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet and conducts investigations into Internet Child Exploitation Offences in partnership with numerous Ontario Police Services. This investigative initiative has been made possible with financial assistance from the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services and the Ministry of the Attorney General. Members of the public can report suspicious Internet activities relating to child exploitation to the Niagara Regional Police Service, or online at www.cybertip.ca . Internet safety tips for parents, children and Internet users are also available on the Cybertip website.