Two men face child luring and other related charges following a joint investigation by police in Peterborough, Chatham-Kent and Peel Region.
According to the Peterborough Police Service, members of its Internet Child Exploitation Unit (ICE) assisted ICE units with the Chatham-Kent Police and Ottawa Police Service during their investigations.
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As part of one investigation, on Sept. 11, police executed a search warrant in Chatham after determining a man was allegedly communicating with a Peterborough-area girl under the age of 16 between Feb. 5 and Aug. 28. He was also allegedly communicating with a girl in the Peel Region between July 22 and Sept. 11, police said.
The 31-year-old Chatham man was arrested and charged with two counts of luring a child under 16 to commit invitation to sexual touching, one count of attempting to make child pornography and four counts of making sexually explicit material available to a person under 16.
Chatham-Kent Police did not disclose the man’s name. He was released with conditions and will make a court appearance on Sept. 29, police said.
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In another investigation, the Ottawa Police Service ICE Unit executed a search warrant at a residence in Orleans on Tuesday. Investigators seized digital devices and arrested one man.
Jason Laberge, 40, of Ottawa, was arrested and charged with three counts of luring a child and one count of making sexually explicit material available to a child.
Peterborough police encourage those wanting to know more about protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation to view information online.