Police say, on December 16, 2015 police from the OPP Child Sexual Exploitation Unit, OPP Technological Crime Unit, Norfolk County OPP and the Niagara Regional Police Service Internet Child Exploitation Unit executed two search warrants. One search warrant was executed at a St. Catharines residence and the other at a Port Rowan Ontario residence. The accused was located and arrested at the St. Catharines address. As a result of this investigation, five computer devices and other items pertinent to the investigation were seized. Some of the items seized contained images of child sexual abuse.
Michael PATTEN, age 20 years, of the Town of Port Rowan Ontario is charged with two counts of Possession of Child Pornography, two counts of Make Available Child Pornography, one count of Making Child Pornography and one count of Sending Sexually Explicit Images Without Consent.
The accused was held for a bail hearing on December 17, 2015 at the Ontario Court of Justice in Simcoe Ontario.
The investigation is continuing.
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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