According to police, on Thursday, June 25th, 2015, as part of the ongoing effort to identify persons responsible for the on-line sexual exploitation of children, The Niagara Regional Police Services Internet Child Exploitation (I.C.E) Unit, Technological Crimes Unit, and 8 District Uniform Patrol officers, executed a Criminal Code Search Warrant on a Beamsville residence.
As a result of the ongoing Investigation, 41 year old Michael Ficht of Beamsville, Ontario has been arrested and charged with the following Criminal Offences:
Possession of Child Pornography contrary to section 163.1(4) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
Access Child Pornography contrary to section 163.1(4.1) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
Making Child Pornography Available contrary to section 163.1(3) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
Mr. Ficht has been held in custody, pending a bail hearing scheduled for June 26th, 2015 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.
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