Durham Regional Police – Male in Custody After Child Pornography Investigation (Name Released)

Male in Custody After Child Pornography Investigation

 

A male has been arrested after police received information the accused was planning to meet with a female residing in the United States to engage in sexual acts with her and her children.

 

On Wednesday, December 27, 2023, at approximately 10:00 a.m., members of the Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit received information from the RCMP National Child Exploitation Crime Centre about a male who possibly resides in Bowmanville, planning to engage in sexual acts with young persons.  A conversation was intercepted on the MeetMe chat app, between the suspect, using profile name ‘That Guy’, and a female who resides in Pennsylvania, USA.  The suspect and the female spoke about meeting this weekend and engaging in sexual acts on the female’s children, aged two and six.  Sexual photographs of the female’s daughter were also sent to the suspect.  Due to the exigency of the situation immediate steps were taken to identify and locate the suspect.

 

On Thursday, December 28, 2023, at approximately 6:30 a.m., members from Central East Division, the ICE Unit, E-Crimes Unit, and FIS executed a warrant at the suspects residence in the area of Aspen Springs Drive and Bowmanville Avenue in Bowmanville.  The suspect was located inside the residence and taken into custody without incident.

 

The DRPS ICE Unit along with the RCMP are currently coordinating with our US law partners to investigate and take the appropriate action against the female party involved in this incident.

 

Craig THOMPSON, age 42 from Bowmanville is charged with: Agree to Commit Sexual Assault Against a Child Under 16, Make Child Pornography, Access Child Pornography, and Possess Child Pornography.

 

He was held for a bail hearing.

 

For more information on our ICE unit and resources that are available please visit our website at https://www.drps.ca/community-safety-and-support/crime-prevention/internet-safety-and-child-exploitation/

 

The Durham Regional Police would like to acknowledge the assistance of the Canadian National and Ontario Provincial Strategies to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet. This project has been made possible by a grant from the Ministry of the Solicitor General.

 

Anyone with new information about this incident is asked to contact the Major Crime Internet Child Exploitation Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5521.

 

Anonymous information can be sent to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.durhamregionalcrimestoppers.ca and tipsters may be eligible for a $2,000 cash reward.

 

The information in this media release contains facts and circumstances that have been obtained from a police investigation.  These allegations have yet to be proven in court.