Woman facing charges related to child sexual abuse material worked with at-risk youth in Niagara
Police arrested man and woman after investigation at Welland, Ont., home on Wednesday
One of two Welland, Ont., adults charged with making child sexual abuse and exploitation material is an employee at a St. Catharines agency that works with at-risk youth.
Niagara Regional Police said a 40-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman were arrested on Wednesday after uniformed officers responded to a "call for service" at a Welland home that day.
Once there, the officers asked for the help of the police service's Internet Child Exploitation Unit and detectives with that unit did an investigation leading to the arrests of the two adults, police said.
Both people facing same charges
Both face three charges of making child sexual abuse and exploitation material, possessing child abuse and exploitation material, and making available child sexual abuse and exploitation material.
Detectives with the Internet Child Exploitation Unit are requesting if anyone has had any contact or information regarding the two adults to contact them at 905-688-4111 extension 1009128.
One of the accused, the 32-year-old woman, is an employee of the Raft in St. Catharines, an agency that works to help prevent at-risk from homelessness, and which operates a youth shelter.
Michael Lethby, executive director of the Raft, confirmed the woman is an employee as a shelter worker. She worked under the direction of the shelter coordinator to monitor the day-to-day functioning of the shelter and support youth there, he said.
Woman's employer not yet contacted by police
Raft only learned she'd been charged when police issued a news release on the arrests, said Lethby.
"Currently, Raft has as much information as the public," Lethby told CBC News. "To date, Raft has not been contacted by [Niagara police] as part of their investigation but we will work fully with them if they contact us."
On the advice of legal counsel, Raft has suspended the woman's employment pending developments in the police investigation and any legal proceedings, Lethby said.
As part of the agency's hiring process, all Raft employees are required to provide both a current police records check and a vulnerable sectors check, he said. All potential hires are also screened through professional reference checks.
Once employed, all employees are required to disclose to management any legal involvement, Lethby said.
Police said people can also provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477.
Moncton doctor charged with possessing child sexual abuse and exploitation material
Jasmin Levallois-Gignac, 42, is a nephrologist at the Georges-L.-Dumont Hospital
A Moncton doctor has been charged with possessing child abuse and exploitation material following what police say was a year-long investigation.
Forty-two-year-old Jasmin Levallois-Gignac is a nephrologist at the Georges.-L.-Dumont Hospital, according to colleagues who spoke with Radio-Canada.
He was arrested June 11 at a residence in Moncton after police executed a search warrant and seized "several electronic devices," RCMP said in a statement.
Vitalité Health Network told Radio-Canada in an email that it learned of the charge laid against Levallois-Gignac on June 12, and that he is not currently practising.
"We are treating this situation seriously and in accordance with our obligations," the network wrote in French.
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick also confirmed that Levallois-Gignac is on leave from work.
According to the college's public directory, Levallois-Gignac graduated from the Université de Montréal in 2007, and he first registered to practise in New Brunswick in August 2011.
His specializations are listed on that website as nephrology and internal medicine.
Led by the RCMP's internet child exploitation unit, the investigation began in April of last year. RCMP said the unit received information about the case from the National Child Exploitation Centre.
Levallois-Gignac appeared in court on June 12, when the charge was laid, and he was released from custody with conditions.
He is scheduled to appear in court again on Nov. 12.
BI-FSU arrests Canadian fugitive wanted for child sex abuse material offenses
MANILA, Philippines — In line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to strengthen border security and prevent the Philippines from becoming a refuge for foreign fugitives, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) has arrested a Canadian national wanted in his home country for offenses involving child sexual abuse material.
Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado announced the arrest of 77-year-old Canadian national Rudolf Hannes Hofer, who was apprehended by operatives of the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) in San Carlos City, Pangasinan on June 9.
The operation was conducted in coordination with government intelligence forces and the San Carlos City Police Station following information received and verified through Canadian authorities.
According to records, Hofer is the subject of two active warrants issued in British Columbia, Canada for possession of child sexual abuse material and breach of undertaking. Investigations further revealed that he had overstayed in the Philippines after failing to extend his authorized stay.
Viado stressed that the Bureau remains vigilant against foreign nationals attempting to evade prosecution by hiding in the country.
“The Philippines will not serve as a sanctuary for fugitives seeking to escape accountability for serious crimes,” said Viado. “As part of our #Shieldkids campaign, we remain committed to working closely with our international law enforcement partners to locate, arrest, and remove foreign nationals who pose a threat to public safety and the welfare of vulnerable sectors, especially children.”
The Canadian national is currently detained at the Bureau’s Warden Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City pending deportation proceedings.
Gull Lake man charged with child exploitation-related offences
A southwest (Saskatchewan) man has been charged with several child sexual abuse and exploitation offences after a raid in Gull Lake earlier this week.
On Tuesday, June 16, the Saskatchewan Internet Child Exploitation Unit executed a search warrant at a Gull Lake residence, where electronic devices were examined and seized by investigators.
25-year-old Tyson Randy Goertz of Gull Lake was issued three charges;
- One count of possessing child sexual abuse and exploitation material
- One count of making available child sexual abuse and exploitation material
- One count of distributing child sexual abuse and exploitation material
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His first court appearance was on Tuesday, after which he was released from custody on conditions.
Goertz is scheduled to return to court on Monday afternoon in Swift Current Provincial Court.
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